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THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE buzz when it was discovered that JJ Abrams wanted to film sections of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry.
The scenes were shot in July and August 2014. Disney has understandably kept the story details of Star Wards: The Force Awakens under wraps, understanding the anticipation building towards the film’s December 2015 release.
The force is strong it seems, so strong that even the Irish Film Board has been sworn to secrecy on the matter.
It seems that Skellig Michael is to be important to the new Star Wars trilogy. Recent reports suggest that director Rian Johnson’s as-yet-untitled Star Wars: Episode VIII has returned to the site for filming. It is obviously too early to confirm whether Colin Trevorrow will bring the still-in-pre-production Star Wars: Episode IX back to the isolated island.
No shortage of controversy
The arrival of the production crew has caused no shortage of controversy. Despite the presence of an ecologist on set to ensure a minimal disturbance to the historical and ecological site there are those who sense a disturbance in the force – as if the local wildlife and the cultural curators of the site suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
Stretched Star Wars metaphors aside, any debate about the conservation of Skellig Michael should acknowledge that the ecological and the historical conservation of the island have long been at odds with one another.
“The nest burrows of puffins and petrels cause damage to the monument, while conservation works and visitors can disturb the seabirds,” noted a UNESCO report in 2007. The arguments are strong over this one.
Given how little we actually know about the production and development of the new Star Wars trilogy – gossip and rumour-mongering aside – it is interesting to wonder what impact the decision to shoot part of the new trilogy off the coast of Ireland might have on popular culture.
It goes without saying that Star Wars is a potent pop cultural force. Even the scruffiest-looking nerf herder would recognise the way that George Lucas’ 1977 film changed the way in which we engage with popular culture. Along with Jaws, it paved the way for the current blockbuster model of popular cinema, rising from the ashes of the old studio system.
Bigger than Jurassic World
It is currently estimated that Star Wars: The Force Awakens could earn more than $615 million internationally during its opening weekend. This would surpass Jurassic World, and there is speculation that it could become the fastest grossing film of all time.Skellig Michael will be on a whole lot of screens.
Experience has demonstrated that these pop culture landmarks can often prove of benefit to the more tangible landmarks that provide their distinctive vistas.
Consider the case of New Zealand. The country experienced a 40% growth in tourism between 2000 and 2006, which many commentators credit to the success and popularity of The Lord of the Rings.
In 2012, six percent of international tourists (approximately 150,000 people) cited The Lord of the Rings as their reason for visiting the country.
Of course, The Lord of the Rings is not necessarily a like-for-like comparison. After all, Peter Jackson’s adaptations of Tolkien’s works are tied to New Zealand. The new Star Wars movies are shooting around the world. Skellig Michael is just one location of many. It might be particularly important to us, but who is to say that it will be particularly important to tourists?
Perhaps Game of Thrones is a more apt example. HBO’s award-winning and much-beloved television show is set across multiple continents with multiple climates.
Northern Ireland is just associated with a small part of the fictional continent of Westeros. However, estimates suggest that Game of Thrones is worth as much as £8.6 million annually to the region.
Kerry tourism
That said, perhaps the potential tourist attraction to the region is anchored to its plot importance. Northern Ireland is especially important to the world of Game of Thrones as the home of the Starks of Winterfell – the characters who served as the protagonists of the first season, even if their numbers have been scattered and diminished with every following season.
Certainly, Tunisia remains a site of great importance to Star Wars fans, due to its association with the planet Tatooine – home to both Anakin and Luke Skywalker. Indeed, it offers examples of the benefits of this sort of tourism.
In 2011, Star Wars fans fundraised to restore the model of Luke’s childhood home.
In 2014, the Tunisian government was able to collaborate with fans to raise money for the preservation of the city of Tataouine, which was under threat from desertification.
Pop culture tourism tends to buoy other tourist attractions.
While Belfast might have been the home of the real Titanic, a lot of people credit the success of James Cameron’s blockbuster for boosting international awareness of the association.
“It’s all because of the movie,” explains Ally Hill, a marketing director for Titanic Belfast.
Certainly, the success of Downton Abbey has helped to fund extensive repairs to Highclere Castle, which sees up to 1,500 visitors per day.
It is perhaps too early to make an educated guess as to the potential impact that shooting on Skellig Michael might have on Irish tourism, given how little we know about the context of the shoot. However, maybe the new Star Wars will bring balance to more than simply the force; maybe it might help balance some books as well.
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People won’t be “flocking” to Skellig Micheal. If they do they will be disappointed as there are only a fairly limited number of people allowed on the Island every day.
And rightly so. Protect our beautiful country. Great to see, and rest of Kerry is gorgeous so hopefully will bring good tourism for our country men and women.
they’ll walk in single file to conceal their numbers ;)
Lidl are opening a shop there next summer.
Might get a few of them on a stopover on their way back from Tunisia to see “Tattooine”. Be nice to them too because the Geeks shall inherit the earth!
The entire Lord of the Rings series was shot in New Zealand…the opening sequel of the Star Wars movie was shot in Kerry. Hardly a fair comparison .
Star Wars fans are a different species altogether though.I’d say they’re more fanatical than LOTR ones.Still even if it only slightly boosts tourism revenue to the area it’s a good thing and given only a fixed number of tourists are allowed out to the rocks themselves it won’t cause any damage.
Exactly. We don’t even know what the scene will consist of. It could be a tiny section of the movie.
exactly
We should build an interpretive centre on the island and a McDonald’s (or maybe an “In ‘n’ Out” as that seems to be cool now).
I doubt it
I agree !
What’s Star Wards? Is this some new E4 show following z listers and their hospital experiences?
It’s that movie with Captain Spock and Alf, where the kid can see dead people.
Ah, I see the typo in the article now. Classic “The Journel”.
So, they haven’t met any of the rapacious kerry folk involved in the tourist trade?
The celebrated BBC 1960s TV documentary “Civilisation” started with a BBC helicopter flying around the Skelligs.
Kenneth Clarke said it was the only place civilization was left in Europe for at least a100 years.
I really don’t know. While in NZ, backpacking, in 2003/2004, I visited some of the sites from LOTR. I was underwhelmed, to be fair… Rivenhall is a valley that I’d find in Cork in 15 mins; the Shire is a farm; the Ered Luin could be anywhere. ..
And that said “Rivendell” when I typed it..
Star Wards: The Patient Awakens (on a trolley)
If they do they will be greeted by welcoming staff that either work 60 hours a week while paid for 39 and on €8.65 or more likely to be dealing with Scambridge staff keeping pay and conditions bad for everyone else- Kitchens full of foreign workers that shovel out pre packed food onto plates – I’m glad I gave up a career as a Chef- staff are treated worse now than 30yrs ago! I worked twice as a Chef in Copenhagen – they respect staff, pay well and you now work a 33hr week! I used to work opposite shifts to another kitchen team which is common practice there and I got 14 out of every 28 days OFF with a combination of 12 and 10 hour shifts- we need a workplace inspectorate that can heavily fine and shut down abusive employers!
I think I read that the daily limit is 180 people per day.Any sneaky attempt by government (and I wouldn’t put it past them) to increase this would affect the World Heritage status.
One of the rooms in the Jedi HQ in Attack of the Clones was modelled on the Library in Trinity College.
It would be interesting to know if the nerdlinger tourists flock there? With their pointy ears and all.
There’s no Vulcans in Star Wars.
Did George Lucas take them out too? Is nothing scared?
Ah Gergori… Don’t be mean to the nerds. ;-)
Tourists will flock to Kerry to witness the fantasy craziness of Eddie Barrett / Ciarraioch!!!!
Star Wars not Star Wards
AH Ha
I do not think Star Wars fans will be interested in nature?
Kerry, it’s full of Ewoks as it is. The Gouch…the Jar Jar Binks of Ireland.
Kerry is full of Ewoks already.
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