From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Quay Street is to be transformed into a mini Hollywood Boulevard next month as silver screen star Dakota Fanning arrives in town to film The Watchers.

Based on the gothic horror novel of the same name by Galway author A. M. Shine, The Watchers is set to begin filming on Quay Street, Kirwan’s Lane and Cross Street on August 23 and the stars of the multi-million-dollar movie will spend three days on location in the city centre.

Following the success of author Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor series, and the subsequent TV series based on his novels, hopes are building that The Watchers will provide a similar draw to the city for international tourists.

The Galway City Tribune understands that Galway City Council will issue road closure notices in the coming days, while discussions with nearby businesses are ongoing.

The screenplay for the film has been written by Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of renowned American filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan of The Sixth Sense and Split fame.

Scheduled for release in the summer of 2024, filming for The Watchers is already underway in Wicklow and local councillor, Níall McNelis, said it was a big boost that Galway was getting in on the action, estimating that the payoff for the city would be in the millions across several industries.

This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the July 7 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.