Attracting digital and gaming companies here is an ideal opportunity for the west of Ireland to prosper, according to Mayo MEP Maria Walsh.
The Shrule native said she is engaging with industry leaders and promoting the region as an ideal location for those businesses.
Ms Walsh has said tax incentives and a skilled and creative workforce here can be key drivers for attracting companies and benefiting from a lucrative and expanding sector.
“How I came across it, because I wouldn’t be a gamer, is my assistant here is a big gamer and she has been teaching me the ins and outs of gaming since we took on this work,” Ms Walsh said.
CEO GamerFest 24/8/22 Stuart Dempsey, CEO, Gamer Fest which will be held in the RDS on the 22nd and 23rd October 2022 Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure
The Midlands North-West MEP said she has worked with Stuart Dempsey, the CEO of GamerFest, who brings in over 10,000 people for two gaming festivals in the RDS every year on top of individual business trips. Ms Walsh stated Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited the festival in May and Simon Coveney will attend in October to again show that the Government has support policies ready.
She said it is obvious there is a great digital community and lots of potential for companies in this region to be successful and “gaming can really fit into that space”.
“Earlier this year I spoke about gaming in the European Parliament, it was a file we worked on and voted on and just how much of an opportunity it is for those in the west of Ireland,” she said. “Within a day I had calls from various leaders in the UK, Australia and Ireland to say it is fantastic to have an Irish-led MEP talk about gaming because there is tremendous opportunities from it and it’s since then I’ve been learning more and more.” Ms Walsh believes there are ample opportunities for towns and rural areas in the west to secure funding and attract leading Irish and international companies.
During the summer, planning approval for a modern, multi-million euro film production studio and digital innovation hub at the Fairgreen in Ballaghaderreen was given the go ahead.
Roscommon County Council approved the development of the multi-media production hub by Bealach Nua CLG, which will have virtual production facilities, aimed at attracting national and international leaders in the industry.
