Coveted Business to Arts award for The Covies online soap

Westport Chamber of Commerce and Len Collin for The Covies online soap have won a prestigious Business to Arts Award for “Best Use of Creativity by a Business”.  This award recognises a business that has worked with an arts organisation in an innovative and mutually beneficial way, bringing creativity into the workplace.

This is a wonderful achievement for the Covies, which was a unique collaboration between film maker Len Collin, the Westport Chamber of Commerce, and Westport Urban District Council. 

Each of the eight episodes in season one is 15 minutes long and the entire season was shot on a shoestring budget of €24,000.  Over 60 actors and 40 locations were used in the making of COVIES. All actors worked for free including Hollywood composer Joseph Conlan.

Collin, who has written for Eastenders, Soldier Soldier, The Bill, Casualty, Holby City and London’s Burning, said, “The idea for the project came from a meeting I had with president of the Westport Chamber of Commerce, Danny McLaughlin. Danny wanted to encourage both tourists and filmmakers to come to Westport, Co Mayo and avail of it’s beautiful locations.

Locations range from airports, churches and Garda stations to beaches, mountains, rivers and the town of Westport itself. All locations used were provided for free including airside at Knock airport.