It’s a wrap – Galway gets UNESCO City of Film status

Galway, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, has been designated a UNESCO City of Film, one of only five cities in the world to achieve the much sought-after title. IT joins Sydney, Australia and Galway’s twin city of Bradford in the UK as a City of Film, bringing the highest internationally recognised standard of excellence in the creative industries to the West coast of Ireland.

The title, announced in Paris by UNESCO director-general, Irina Bokova, is permanent and also includes membership of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. A total of 63 cities around the world were in the running for City of Film status during a competitive two-year campaign. The designation gives Galway immediate access and links to a global platform of major metropolitan and cultural centres such as Sydney, Seoul, Shanghai, Montreal, Buenos Aires, Berlin and Edinburgh and boosts the city’s and county’s already impressive film and TV industry.

The announcement came just a few days after Galway Film Centre’s annual film and television seminar, with participants that included Beau Willimon, creator and showrunner of the Netflix drama series House of Cards, Bafta-winning producer Claire Jennings and former Channel 4 television drama head Gub Neal, who is producer of the hit TV BBC series The Fall.

Situated on the West coast, Galway is also a major stopping point of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, and famed for its friendly atmosphere, incredible coastal and mountain scenery and its youthful vibrancy. Packed with fine restaurants, a first-class Irish music and pub scene and lively shopping streets providing much entertainment, it is also one of the best places in the country to go out in.

Dublin, Ireland’s capital on the east coast of the island, is a UNESCO City of Literature – synonymous with such literary greats as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde and James Joyce.