Mark Hamill lends his voice to promote “the force” of Ireland

Star Wars: The Last Jedi star seems hooked on County Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way after box office smash filming stint

As expected, Star Wars: The Last Jedi set the box office on fire last weekend, scooping up more than $220 million in North America alone.  And Ireland is a major scene-stealer, literally, as the gorgeous Wild Atlantic Way in Kerry and Donegal was the setting for a number of happenings in the film.

Mark Hamill, the iconic star of Star Wars, has gone on record many times saying how much he enjoys working in Ireland.  So he must have been only to happy to help the marketing folks at Tourism Ireland create a new promo clip that highlights the Wild Atlantic Way’s connections to Star Wars.

Read more: Why Ireland is the ultimate destination for Star Wars fans

“Escape the dark side along earth’s Wild Atlantic Way.  It’s the perfect place to get away from it all,” Hamill – AKA Luke Skywalker -- says at the end of the minute long clip.

The tourist attractions and business along the Wild Atlantic Way must be looking forward to a very Happy New Year given that kind of plug!  Star Wars has never been hotter and its rabid fans are known to be obsessed with any connection at all, so it’s a sure bet that Ireland will see many new tourists in 2018.

“From the craggy summit of Skellig Michael, off the south-western shores to Ireland’s most northerly tip, Malin Head, key locations were hand-picked by Star Wars location scouts to represent Ahch-to, the oceanic planet which became home to an exiled Luke Skywalker,” a Tourism Ireland press release says.

“In September 2015, actors Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley returned to Skellig Michael, this time with director Rian Johnson to embark on a new Star Wars adventure, with The Last Jedi’s very first scenes shot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.  But the journey didn’t end there.  In May 2016, Rian returned to Ireland with his cast for a second shoot on Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal, Ireland’s most northerly point.”

Read more: A 360 view of Star Wars: Last Jedi’s Skellig Michael is just magical