Minister Patrick O’Donovan visits set of Wayfinders at Troy Studios

Minister O’Donovan visits set of Wayfinders at Troy Studios. Pictured at the Wayfinders set in Troy Studios are Glen Winter, Director block 1 and block 3, Minister Patrick O’Donnovan TD, Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive, Stephen Hall, series producer Dark Day Pictures, Mike Jones, series producer Dark Day Pictures, Kynan Griffin, show runner. Pic. Brian Arthur

Minister for Arts, Patrick O’Donovan TD visited the Wayfinders set at Troy Studios where more than 120 local crew and 50 local suppliers are working with the production

Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD visited the set of Wayfinders, the major fantasy television series currently filming at Troy Studios in Castletroy, Co Limerick, with Screen Ireland/ Fís Éireann yesterday, to meet with cast, crew, and trainees involved in the production.

Co-produced by Limerick-based Dark Day Pictures and US company Arrowstorm, Wayfinders is a six-part series. The project is supporting over 120 local crew and engaging more than 50 local suppliers, and principal photography will take place in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, and Offaly between now and the end of the summer.

Chief Executive of Screen Ireland, Désirée Finnegan, joined Minister O’Donovan on the tour alongside Elaine Geraghty, Managing Director of Troy Studios, Rachel Power, Manager from Film in Limerick & the National Talent Academy Crew Hub South, and producers Stephen Hall and Michael Jones of Dark Day Pictures.

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Screen Ireland/ Fís Éireann has provided strategic funding for the production through its Nationwide Additional Production Fund, as well as targeted support for a dedicated regional skills development programme running alongside the shoot. This initiative is enabling over 50 structured work-based learning and continuous professional development opportunities for crew and new entrants based in the West and MidWest of Ireland.

Wayfinders also benefits from Section 481, Ireland’s audiovisual tax incentive, which is designed to support the growth of the creative screen sector.

During the visit, the Minister met with trainees who are progressing through structured placements on the production designed to prepare them for long-term careers in the industry. The programme supports skills development across key departments including Stunts, Art, Props, Construction, Hair & Makeup, Costume, Production Office, and Electric. 

Wayfinders has been working closely with Film in Limerick, and with local third-level institutions, including the Limerick School of Art and Design, to further deepen talent pathways and regional industry capacity.

Wayfinders also works closely with local third-level institutions, including the Limerick School of Art and Design, to further deepen talent pathways and regional industry capacity.

Minister O’Donovan said, “A major TV Production like this is a real positive for Limerick and the surrounding area, not just for those employed on the set but for the wider business community.  I would like to acknowledge the amazing work that is taking place both in front of and behind the camera for this production at Troy Studios. The facilities here are exceptional and I look forward to further productions coming to Troy in the near future”.

Chief Executive of Screen Ireland, Désirée Finnegan said, “A priority of our new strategic plan is to support and empower the sector to develop world-class skills and create long-term career pathways nationwide. Increasing the scale and ambition of productions across the country is essential to the future growth of the screen industry. We are proud to see emerging talent progressing through structured skills programmes and contributing to a TV production of this calibre.”