Helped by generous tax breaks, Ireland's film and TV production sector has never been stronger.

When Irish director Dearbhla Walsh started her career in Ireland in the late 1980s, opportunities for budding film-makers were limited.

"There was no work in Ireland," says Walsh, "To aspire to be a director was almost a fantasy."

Today, the picture is decidedly different. Ireland has emerged as a major force in the global film industry in recent years, both in the development of its own films and television series, as well serving as a location and production hub for international productions.

Walsh was the lead director of Apple TV 's dark comedy Bad Sisters, one of many TV shows shot and set in the Republic of Ireland in recent years that, alongside programmes including Normal People and Bodkin, have drawn the attention of global audiences to Irish stories. This year actress Sharon Horgan received her second consecutive nomination for an Emmy Award for her portrayal as Eva Garvey in Bad Sisters.

Irish films have also gained international recognition, with both The Banshees of Inisherin and The Quiet Girl being nominated for Academy Awards in 2023. A new generation of Irish screen talent has found the spotlight, including Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal.

"I think Ireland is having a moment," says Walsh, "Irish people have a greater confidence. They're able to create from home and sell stories about Ireland."

The film and TV sector contributes more than €1bn ($1.2bn/ £845m)to the Irish economy annually and directly supports the equivalent of around 10,000 full-time jobs. That's according to a report from Screen Ireland, the development agency for the Irish film industry.

Walsh, who is currently working in Los Angeles shooting Apple TV 's upcoming drama series Margo's Got Money Troubles starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman, has built an award-winning international career as a director.

With Bad Sisters, Walsh says she relished the opportunity to tell a story from an Irish perspective. "It was incredibly exciting for me to come home and tell a story that I really felt I understood," she says.

The growth of the Irish film industry has been attributed to three decades of sustained investment, support and training along with generous tax incentives.

The Irish government offers a standard 32% tax credit for film, TV and animation, one of the highest in the world. The way this works is that Irish film production companies can claim back 32% of their production costs against their business tax bill. In California the........

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