SCENE 01 / GAFFER LIGHTING TEAM
Gaffer & Lighting Services Ireland
Professional gaffers and lighting crews with expertise in LED, HMI, and tungsten systems. From intimate interviews to large-scale nighttime shoots across Ireland.
The gaffer and lighting team translate the Director of Photography's vision into practical lighting setups on set. In Ireland, gaffers work at Ardmore Studios in Wicklow, Troy Studios in Limerick, and Ashford Studios, designing and executing lighting plans for Screen Ireland-supported productions and major international co-productions.
We assemble experienced gaffer and lighting teams matched to your production's scale, style, and technical requirements. With equipment sourced through rental houses like Filmbase and Dublin-based suppliers, our team coordinates crew availability, equipment sourcing, and department logistics so your lighting team arrives fully prepared.
Capabilities
Lighting Department Solutions
From intimate interview setups to large-scale feature productions, we provide experienced gaffers and complete electric crews tailored to your project's needs.
01
Feature & TV
- Cinematic lighting design
- Large-scale set lighting
- Night exterior setups
- Practical integration
- Period and stylized looks
Narrative Excellence
02
Commercial
- Product lighting
- Tabletop photography
- Beauty and fashion
- Food cinematography
- High-key brand looks
Brand Impact
03
Live Events
- Concert and performance
- Corporate presentations
- Award ceremonies
- Fashion shows
- Live broadcast lighting
Event Production
04
Corporate
- Interview setups
- Office and facility
- Training videos
- Webinar production
- Executive portraits
Professional Content
On Location
Gaffer rosters across Ardmore, Ashford, Troy Studios Limerick and Titanic Studios Belfast with ARRI SkyPanel and Aputure 1200d Pro packages
Here is how this works in practice. Ireland's gaffer and best-boy bench runs through ISC and ASC-allied rosters with credits across Game of Thrones (Titanic Studios Belfast + Paint Hall + Tollymore Forest + Castle Ward Winterfell. This includes the largest sustained lighting deployment in Irish-Northern Ireland production history across all 8 seasons), Vikings and Vikings Valhalla at Ashford Studios (longboat-deck rigging plus Volga-equivalent location lighting), Foundation Apple TV+ at Troy Studios Limerick (LED virtual-production gaffer-VAD coordination). The Tudors at Ardmore.
Here is the short of it. Star Wars The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi Skellig Michael UNESCO (location-only ready-light + small ARRI SkyPanel S30 augmentation under heritage-site protocol), Branagh's Belfast (the celebrated street-level practical-mixed gaffering), Banshees of Inisherin across Achill Island and Inishmore Aran Islands, Normal People HBO across Sligo and Trinity, The Wonder, The Quiet Girl, Brooklyn, Once, Sing Street, In the Name of the Father, Michael Collins, The Commitments and the wider Pierce Brosnan Bond filmography.
The North adds the BBC NI drama-lighting bench under the CTA seamless cross-border plan, with senior gaffers moving fluidly between Dublin and Belfast blocks.
Here is the breakdown. Gear flow runs ARRI SkyPanel S60 + S120 + S360 LED soft sources (the local cinema standard, ready through Ardmore Studios + Ashford Studios + Troy Studios stage stock). Aputure 600d Pro and 1200d Pro for daylight punch. Astera Titan Tubes and Helios for tube-source and pixel-mapped work. Litepanels Gemini 2x1 and 1x1 for documentary and corporate, and Mole-Richardson tungsten and ARRI M-series HMI hard sources for legacy-feature blocks. Atlantic maritime conditions drive specific protocols. Wet-year-round weatherproofing with IP-rated SkyPanel diffusion frames and rain-cover protocols. Wind-exposure stand sandbagging on Wild Atlantic Way exteriors.
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Salt-air post-shoot upkeep routines for coastal locations. Heritage UNESCO zones (Skellig Michael + Giant's Causeway + Newgrange Brú na Bóinne) carry strict silent-zone protocols favouring battery-power lighting over generator-driven HMI. With bespoke OPW Ireland and National Trust Northern Ireland sign-offs needed. Section 481 32% relief plus 40% regional uplift covers gaffer day rates and grip-truck packages alongside the lighting package. Bilingual EN/Irish (Gaeilge) crew coordination is standard on Gaeltacht shoots and TG4 broadcast briefs.
FAQ
Our Lighting Network
What does a gaffer do on set?
The gaffer is the head of the electrical/lighting department, responsible for executing the DP's lighting vision. They design lighting setups, manage the electric crew, coordinate equipment, and ensure safe power distribution throughout the production.
What crew positions are in a lighting department?
A full lighting department includes: Gaffer (department head), Best Boy Electric (gaffer's assistant, manages crew and equipment), Electricians/Sparks (set up and operate lights), and on larger productions, Rigging Gaffers and Generator Operators.
Do your lighting crews bring their own equipment?
Crew and equipment are typically separate. We can coordinate equipment packages from Irish rental houses to complement your crew booking. Some gaffers have personal equipment for smaller productions.
How many electricians do I need for my production?
Crew size depends on production scale: small shoots may need just a gaffer, medium productions typically need gaffer plus best boy and 1-2 electricians, while larger productions require full departments with rigging crews.
Can your lighting crews work with international DPs?
Yes. Our gaffers are experienced working with international cinematographers and understand international terminology, techniques, and workflow expectations. Many are bilingual Irish-English.
Do you provide generators and power distribution?
We coordinate generator hire and distribution equipment through our rental partners. Generator operators can be included in crew packages for productions requiring significant power infrastructure.
Related Services
Productions in Ireland that need this often pair it with LED Lighting Systems, Portable Power Solutions, and Grip Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Gimbal Filming and Virtual Production.
On Set
Need a Lighting Team?
Tell us about your production and we'll recommend the right gaffer and crew for your lighting needs.