Film company seeks road closure

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has received an application to close a main route in Antrim Town for filming for two days next month.

The application from Skintown Films Ltd says that it wishes to make arrangements to film on the road for the purposes of recording of a film on Wednesday 17th September and Thursday 18th September.

An Public Notice advert said: “By Virtue of the powers conferred on it by Article 8A of and Schedule 3A to the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 the Council gives notice that it is minded to make an Order to temporarily restrict or prohibit vehicular traffic from the junction of Dublin Road and Market Square Antrim to the junction of High Street and Bridge Street, Antrim.

“Closures are proposed between 7am and 9.30pm and 6am and 11.59pm on the above dates respectively

“Direction on traffic management will be provided and a diversion route will be signposted.

“Arrangements can be made to inspect the appliciation free of charge, by contacting the Council.

“Persons wishing to make representations to the Council regarding the proposal may do so in writing at the address below by 9th September 2025.

“Representations received after this will not be considered.”

Skintown Films Ltd was incorporated in May of this year.

Insiders say that the filming may be linked to fact that the Northern Irish actor and author Ciaran McMenamin’s 2018 novel Skintown is set for a big screen adaptation.

The film is said to be produced by Yvonne Donohoe of Keeper Pictures and Brendan J. Byrne of Cyprus Avenue Films - who is also a director of Skintown Film Ltd.

An article on the Deadline website said: “Set in the mid-’90s during the IRA ceasefire, the film follows the roller coaster journey of two best friends trying to escape their life in a small Irish town.

“Immersing themselves in the world of raves, drugs and gangs the boys dream big but are thwarted by the realities of the world around them. Described by producers as “a buddy movie combining the anarchy of Kneecap with the humor of Derry Girls,” the film is said to be influenced by titles like Trainspotting and Twin Town.”

Anthony Boyle (Masters of The Air) and Josh Finan (Say Nothing) are signed on to star

Deadline said: “Skintown is set to shoot in mid-2025 with backing from Screen Ireland and has been supported in development by Northern Ireland Screen.”

Market Square and Castle Gardens were used as a filming location in 2022 for the Pierce Brosnan film ‘The Last Rifleman; which saw the town centre transformed into a French village, commemorating D-Day.