About Us
About Film and TV Crew West:
Film and TV Crew West is part of the National Talent Academies a Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland initiative, which will be a lead driver in the development of highly skilled production crew for the Irish film and TV sector. Managed by Atlantic Academy Ltd, Film and TV Crew West will build talent and skills regionally by providing skills development opportunities across all areas for below-the-line crew. We deliver English and Irish language training programmes of international standards in Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, with a nationwide remit.
Film and TV Crew West will provide a wide range of training for new and existing crew, such as practical courses, boot camps, up-skilling, master classes and on the job training. Our training covers everything from soft skills training such as presentation and mentoring skills, to introductory courses for new entrants and mentorship opportunities. Working alongside industry stakeholders, Film and TV Crew West provides world-class courses to fulfil the potential of the Irish TV and Film Industry, both regionally and nationally.
About Atlantic Academy:
Atlantic Academy – Acadamh Atlantach is a Gaeltacht based Film and TV production training company, which will support the growth in the film and tv sector across Ireland’s Western region. Established by Danú Media, co-producers of TG4’s long-running drama series Ros na Rún, Atlantic Academy will operate from An Spidéal, where the TG4 drama series is filmed on a purpose-built TV drama studio set. Danú Media is also the promoter of Gréasán na Meáin Skillnet which has provided extensive media training for the film and TV sector for over a decade
Meet the Team
CEO
Siobhán Ní Ghadhra
Emmy award-winning Producer based in Galway, Ireland. Vast experience in international co-production in both live-action and animation. Owner of Danú Media www.danumedia.com
Danú Media is a bi-lingual multifaceted film production company located in Ireland, that places creative entrepreneurship at the heart of its’ activities. Established in 2015, Danú Media brings together the talents, passion and experience of it’s multi award-winning company directors John Brady and Siobhán Ní Ghadhra. Prior to establishing Danú Media, Siobhán and John amounted an impressive track record of producing / co-producing over 1,000 hours of film and TV drama for a host of film production companies and channels, across multiple genres and budget scales for both domestic and international markets.
Executive Director
John Brady
John Brady is one of the leading Producers / Line-Producers based in West of Ireland and has a wealth of experience as a producer, line producer and executive producer on diverse slate film and television drama productions over 20 years. Recently John was co-producer on Wild Mountain Thyme and line producer on Irish Canadian Co-Production Death of a Ladies Man. John has worked on a range of international co-productions including Four Kids and It, Wisting, Never Grow Old, Muse and A Date for Mad Mary. John produced the IFTA award winning Aifrica and Fir Bolg for TG4. John is a graduate from the DIT School of Communications and hold a degree in Law from NUIG, and a Masters in Business from IMI/UCC.
Manager
Lorraine Higgins
Lorraine Higgins has a decade-long career within the Irish film and television industry, showcasing her expertise as a versatile crew member. Her professional journey includes contributions in both production office and location departments, where she has worked across various international productions with diverse budgetary scales.
Transitioning into a role in Inward Production at Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland in 2019, Lorraine collaborated closely with Irish and international producers. Her responsibilities involve facilitating the scouting process for locations, crew, and infrastructure, thereby ensuring the successful collaboration of filming projects within the Republic of Ireland.
In addition to her extensive practical experience, Lorraine has completed a postgraduate qualification in Advanced Producing at TU Dublin, further enhancing her skill set and knowledge in the field. Presently, she directs the National Film and Television Crew West at the Atlantic Academy, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing talent within the western region of the country
