A group of over 25 international entertainment and lifestyle media professionals were hosted by Fáilte Ireland as they visited the Star Wars filming locations in Co. Kerry. The trip was arranged in conjunction with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm Ltd™ and Tourism Ireland and timed for the week that Star Wars actor Mark Hamill took part in the St Patrick’s Festival as International Guest of Honour.
The group of media professionals from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have a combined reach of over 28 million people. The TV and print journalists write for some of the world’s leading newspapers and included staff from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Entertainment Tonight online, and Dish Nation/FOX affiliates.
Speaking about the visit and the opportunity presented by these visiting journalists to Kerry, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, said, “The Wild Atlantic Way is fortunately not in a galaxy far, far, away, but right on our doorstep. Having an iconic Irish location such as Skellig Michael featuring so prominently in a high profile movie is certainly benefiting Irish tourism. This visit from high profile overseas journalists will encourage more people from all around the world to explore and enjoy the epic landscapes of Kerry and our Atlantic coast.”
Meanwhile, Liam Campbell, International Publicity manager with Fáilte Ireland, commented, “For many people, a compelling film or memorable movie forms an emotional ‘pull factor’ and can create a curiosity about a destination that may not have previously existed. A film like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with its incredibly loyal and committed fan-base, will raise the profile of the Wild Atlantic Way even further and these journalists will help encourage many more visitors to come here and discover one of our most beautiful natural assets – our wild rugged Atlantic coast.”
