‘Vikings’ Wicklow studio generates €500,000 profit

The Irish movie studio where the hit series Vikings is filmed recorded profits of over €500,000 last year.

According to the first set of accounts filed by Joe and Shelley O’Connell’s Ashford Studios business, the company recorded a profit of €507,503 for 2015. Cash at the end of the year totalled €1.5m.

The fifth series of Vikings is being shot at the Co Wicklow studios. The studio has a planning application before Wicklow County Council that, if successful, would significantly increase its capacity and cater for three or four productions at a time.

The €90m expansion plan includes four new film studios of 3,716sq m each, a TV studio, offices, support space and visitor centre in a bid to underpin the development of a TV and film skills cluster in the county and create at least 2,500 jobs there.

In a letter to Wicklow County Council accompanying the application, Shelley O’Connell said: “Negotiations with prospective film companies are at an advanced stage and we realise the speed of implementation is important to secure these enquiries.”

The plan is opposed by two residents, Emily Hill and Sharon Hughes, who have employed planning consultants RPS to lodge an objection against the proposal.

The objection states the proposed development could seriously injure the amenities of their property in the construction and operational stages of the development.

It says the development is not in keeping with the rural character of the area.