The force of Star Wars is being felt all over the world, and further afield, before the new movie comes out next week.
Donegal and Kerry were famously used as the setting for Star Wars: The Last Jedi – which has now inspired an extraordinary publicity stunt from Tourism Ireland.
The tourism officials have launched an out-of-this-world campaign to visitors from afar. As far as space, no less!
A billboard highlighting Earth’s Wild Atlantic Way was sent into space using a weather balloon. It reached a peak altitude of 33,390 metres, showcasing the Irish coastal route to potential visitors in far-flung planets perhaps!
The aim of the stunt is to create some excitement just before The Last Jedi is released and to remind fans everywhere that locations in counties Cork, Kerry, Clare and Donegal will represent the planet Ahch-to in the film – due to hit the big screen on 15 December.
Tourism Ireland will once again leverage the huge global popularity of Star Wars for Irish tourism. The organisation will launch the first phase of its new Star Warscampaign on 18 December, targeting fans of the science fiction franchise everywhere.
“Our space tourism publicity stunt is a bit of fun, designed to create some excitement as Star Wars fans everywhere get ready for the release of The Last Jedi,” said Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland.
“The fact that another Star Wars film was shot on location along the Wild Atlantic Way is truly a fantastic coup for Irish tourism. It presents Tourism Ireland with a superb opportunity to highlight the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland in 2018.”