In a Galaxy Not So Far Away... Ireland Feels 'The Force'

In a Galaxy Not So Far Away... Ireland Feels 'The Force'

DUBLIN, December 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --



An island off Ireland's south west coast is wowing audiences at screenings of Star
Wars: The Force Awakens.



To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:



http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7718351-ireland-feels-the-force



Unveiled in the film's closing minutes, this closely guarded secret ending to Episode
7 was filmed in September 2014 on Skellig Michael Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Since 1977, the record-breaking movie franchise has travelled through many galaxies,
and this time, director JJ Abrams along with cast and crew jetted into a little village
called Portmagee, County Kerry, on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. From here, they travelled
eight miles (12 Km) by sea to a dream film location, Skellig Michael.



Locals were told a documentary was being filmed but were amazed when they realised
that Star Wars was being filmed in their community. Gerard Kennedy of 'The Bridge Bar and
Moorings Guesthouse' in Portmagee, said:



"It's been so hard to keep this secret! It was such a weird and wonderful experience
for our small village to be part of the Star Wars story. We enjoyed evenings of music and
dance in our bar with the cast and crew. Mark Hamill even learned how to pull a pint with
our barman, Ciaran Kelly!"



More background and stories about Star Wars filming on Skellig Michael are available
here:



http://www.ireland.com/starwars  



TV and Film are recognised as strong influencers on travellers, with up to 35% of
people being impacted in their choice of destination by what they see on screen. Niall
Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, comments:



"Star Wars filming in Ireland will bring the magnificent scenery of Skellig Michael to
the attention of millions of people around the world. It's a really effective way to reach
audiences, helping to significantly boost awareness of the Skelligs, the South West and
Ireland in general, whetting peoples' appetites to come and visit."



Skellig Michael is accessible only by boat. Today it's inhabited solely by birds, but
monks settled here over a millennium ago and the beehive huts that they lived in are
restored and can be visited from May to September each year, but advance booking is
essential.



Kerry, is aptly also one of only three Gold Tier International Dark Sky reserves in
the world. The beautiful band of the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, star clusters and
nebulas are just some of the naked eye wonders to see without the aid of any astronomical
equipment or filters.



(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151217/296824 )








Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151217/296824




Video:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7718351-ireland-feels-the-force


Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151217/296824
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151217/296824
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Video:http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7718351-ireland-feels-the-force
Tourism Ireland

CONTACT: Further media information: Emma Gorman, Tourism Ireland, Tel: +353-87-9278508


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