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

Dublin (ots/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-f
orce/

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 )

Video:

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

ots Originaltext: Tourism Ireland
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Emma Gorman
Tourism Ireland
Tel: +353-87-9278508