NOT SUCH A sinking feeling for the economy today as Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan welcomed the filming in Dublin of a major new TV series about the Titanic. Titanic, Blood and Steel is to bring an estimated €12m boost to the economy, related to spending on local goods and services and the creation of 200 temporary jobs for Irish cast and crew.

The series, starring Neve Campbell of Scream fame and Chris Noth, who played Mr Big in Sex and the City, records the building of the Titanic in the turbulent surroundings of Edwardian Belfast at the beginning of the 20th century. It ends on the launch of the ship on its maiden voyage – a voyage modern audiences will know ended in tragedy and the loss of 1,517 lives on 15 April 1912.

This TV series is due to air next year, the centenary of the sinking.

Jimmy Deenihan said that the series would be broadcast to “millions of viewers all over the world” and would help promote Ireland as a film location and tourist destination. The Irish Film Board (IFB) is supporting the production and had a major role in bringing it to Ireland. Historical locations in Dublin which will stand in for Belfast scenes include the Georgian terrace of Henrietta Street, Howth Castle, the Guinness factory, Earlsfort Terrace, Palmerstown House, the National Botanic Gardens and Clancy Barracks.

Deenihan also hinted that the IFB would soon be announcing other new projects to be filmed on location in Ireland.

Some of the Irish cast members of Titanic, Blood and Steel include Liam Cunningham, Michael McElhatton and Martin McCann. As well as Neve Campbell and Chris Noth, well-known international faces such as Derek Jacobi and Kevin Zegers of Gossip Girl are also appearing in the series.

The producers are Dublin-based Epos Films and the director is Irishman Ciaran Donnelly who has previously directed on The Tudors and Inspector George Gently series.

Minister Deenihan visited the set today – we just want to know what he’s saying to Neve Campbell: