The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
A galactic festival to mark Star Wars day
THE May Bank Holiday is set to be a busy one for film fans in the Kingdom with a host of events taking place in west and south Kerry to mark international Star Wars day.
May the fourth has become known across the world as Star Wars day and to celebrate the occasion the communities in Portmagee, Valentia and Ballyferriter – working in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland – have organised a galaxy-worth of events for the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Tourism Minister Brendan Griffin TD – decked out in full Jedi garb – was on hand last Thursday evening to help launch the festivities at The Moorings in Portmagee and at Ceann Sibéal Hotel in Ballyferriter.
Much of the latest Star Wars film ‘The Last Jedi’ was filmed on Skellig Michael and at Ceann Sibéal – which doubled for the Skelligs – and west and south Kerry have enjoyed a surge in tourism as a result with film fans from across the globe arriving to get a closer look at the locations.
The highlight of the weekend’s events in both areas will be open-air drive-in screenings of The Last Jedi – at Bray Head car park in Valentia and at Béal Bán beach near Ballyferriter – set against the very backdrop on which it was filmed.
In south Kerry visitors will also be able to enjoy boat trips around the Skelligs; stargazing; a Jedi-inspired céilí at The Moorings Bar in Portmagee; and a Star Wars-themed family fun day at Valentia’s Royal Hotel.
Over in west Kerry there’ll also be plenty for Star Wars fans to enjoy. Events there include an exhibition of behind the scenes photos from the film shoot; tours of beehive huts like those inhabited by hermit Jedi Luke Skywalker in the film; guided tours of the filming location at Ceann Sibéal; and boat trips along the stunning coast that drew the film makers to Kerry. There’s lots more going on in both areas from May 4 to May 6 and for the full details of the ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ weekend log on to the www.wildatlanticway.com.