Ardmore Studios sits just west of Bray town centre and has been at the heart of Irish film production since it opened in 1958. The complex was founded by Emmet Dalton and Louis Elliman and quickly attracted international productions drawn by lower costs, skilled crews, and the varied landscapes of County Wicklow nearby. Over the following decades it became the default choice for any major film requiring Irish locations or facilities, and it has remained consistently busy ever since.
The studios are not open to the public as a visitor attraction, but they are worth knowing about as you wander Bray — the large water tower visible from parts of town belongs to the complex. For anyone interested in film history, Ardmore occupies a significant position: it helped establish Ireland as a credible film production destination long before the Irish Film Board or the tax incentive schemes that later brought Hollywood to Dublin. The surrounding Wicklow Mountains appear in dozens of productions, often doubled for other landscapes entirely.