Terence Ryan Looks to Set-Up Limerick Film Studio | The Irish Film & Television Network

Terence Ryan revealed to IFTN that Opix Films is now seeking a Limerick studio as a base for the television adaptation. “We had looked at various large UK studios and at the Paint Hall studio in Belfast. I had met with Eoghan Prendergast of Shannon Development and they were keen to bring the project to the area and Limerick has so much to offer.” Terence had previously shot ‘Puckoon’, starring David Attenborough in 2002, at the Belfast Paint Hall studio which is the current home of HBO epic production ‘Game of Thrones’. The producer is now convinced that Limerick is the right place to base productions for the new Opix projects setting up a production office at the National Technological Park in Limerick with hopes to establish an Irish arm of his UK company. The producer explains that the company has acquired “investment to fit out a studio if we could find the right space,” which is estimated at over 5,000 square feet. Factories, warehouses etc are being viewed as possible spaces that can be converted into a studio space.

“It is important for us that we do bring the project to Ireland because we are Irish. We may not have been born in Ireland but we are Irish. And if there is a way that the project can happen here, we absolutely want it to,” says Ryan about his plans to film in Ireland. Having gone to school in nearby Tipperary and with family still in Limerick, Terence sees it as a sort of homecoming. “It is a great place for something like this. It has a University with a lot of talent, and airport close with a great motorway for access, it is only two hours from Dublin, there is a fantastic transport system,” explains Terence. “Limerick also has great international links, with companies based around the Shannon area. There are great hotels. It is a fantastic location. Also it is a link/hub to America with technological. And obviously it has massive tax benefits.” Opix Films are also planning to shoot other productions in Limerick including a series of one hour sport documentaries on rugby.

Terence had wanted to film the original ‘Brylcreem Boys’ in Ireland but when this fell through, shooting relocated to the Isle of Man. Having met former Tourism Minister for the Isle of Man, Alan Bell, at Cannes three years ago, Bell told Terence that since the shooting of ‘Brylcreem Boys’, £1.6 billion worth of film industry business had come to the Isle of Man.

Terence Ryan founded Opix Films with Ray Marshall back in 1980. Opix films went on to produce 120 films and television series over a twelve-year period. Productions included ‘Focus on Soccer’, television comedy features ‘American Carrott’ and ‘Carrott del sol’, WW1 feature ‘Going Home’ and TV sport series ‘Superstars of Soccer’.

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