Ireland's first indigenous television drama series for teenagers in Irish may have to be filmed outside the Gaeltacht area if a Connemara studio is sold this summer.
Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey is due to view the set of the series, Aifric, today when he makes several announcements at TG4. However, the future of the Corman Studios, leased by independent company Telegael for the soap's production, is in question.
Former arts minister Michael D Higgins (Labour) has urged the Government to ensure that the studios are retained as part of the integral film and television infrastructure established in Connemara during his tenure.
The studios were established as a European base by legendary B-movie director Roger Corman, and are the largest of their type in the west of Ireland. They received Údarás na Gaeltachta funding and were used for a time by Merlin Films, but were put up for sale last October.
A bid has recently been lodged which may result in them being converted into warehouses. Údarás says it has recouped some €285,000 in grant aid from the company, but Mr Higgins says the Gaeltacht development authority should be more active in securing their long-term future.