Force awakens a blockbuster boost for Wild Atlantic Way
STAR Wars legend Mark Hamill gave a massive endorsement to Irish tourism and the Wild Atlantic Way when he told the world everyone should think of taking a holiday here.
And Failte Ireland bosses are gearing up to cash in on the success of the newly released Star Wars: The Last Jedi which has already managed to set a record for the second-biggest Thursday night opening in North America and is expected to make some $200m at the box office in the US this weekend.
It’s not just Skellig Michael featured in the movie — but beauty spots all along the western seaboard — and Failte Ireland has tailored cinema advertising for 2018 around the blockbuster franchise. Mark Hamill, the 66-year-old actor who plays Luke Skywalker, has golden memories of filming in Co Kerry.
And he said he was stunned by the view every morning when he stepped out of his rented home while making the blockbuster.
“It’s just indescribably beautiful,” he told RTE’s Today with Maura and Daithi.
“I would get out in the morning and go out in the back yard and it didn’t look real. It looked like a map painting from a movie. You just can’t believe how beautiful it is.
“I would urge anyone if they are trying to decide where to go for a vacation to seriously consider Ireland.”
The star agreed the Dingle Peninsula looked a bit like Hawaii, but added: “People in Hawaii aren’t as friendly as people in Dingle.
“My gosh, we had a day off and I saw everyone from the movie walking up and down the streets and to a person they [the locals] were standing outside the shops welcoming us in.
“Of course, it’s great for the economy, but I don’t feel that’s their motivation.
“Their motivation is that they are just genuinely warm, friendly people and want to let you understand why their lives are so much better than anybody else’s.”
The actor, who starred in the original Star Wars trilogy and reprised his role in the latest movies, said he hoped the immense popularity of the series would not damage the local area.
“I hope us being in Dingle and on Skellig Michael doesn’t ruin the natural beauty.
“You don’t want to be inundated with Star Wars nerds,” he joked.
“But they are usually well behaved and they spend money so it is good for the economy.”
Irish star Domhnall Gleeson, who plays General Hux in The Last Jedi, said he was gutted he never got to film his scenes in Kerry and Donegal.
“I was looking at the schedule of where they were going up and down the west coast and I was deeply jealous that I was not going to be there,” said the 34-yearold Dubliner.
English star Daisy Ridley, who has the main role of Rey, fell in love with Kerry.
“It was so great. We went north, north and south, south and spent a lot of time in Dingle,” she said.