Star Wars fans are marking the day that’s in it, with a series of events in Donegal and Kerry today.
The ‘May the Fourth’ festival evolved after the filming of key sections in the latest episodes of the series off the North and south west coasts in recent years. The title is a play on the ‘May the Force be With You’ line from the long running film franchise.
Initially marked in Kerry, events in Portmagee and Ballyferiter, Malin Head in Co Donegal have been added to the festivities this year.
Several scenes in the 2014 film, The Force Awakens, were filmed on Skellig Michael and when the cast and crew returned to Ireland to shoot elements of The Last Jedi in 2017, Malin Head was added to the list of locations here.
The inclusion of sites on the Wild Atlantic Way has led to a further boost in tourist numbers, with Star Wars fans from around the world, keen to visit places where the action scenes were shot.
There’s a full weekend of activities to mark the ‘May the Fourth’ festival in and around Malin Head, with tours, film screenings, exhibitions, fireworks and boat trips.
The Last Jedi will be screened on an outdoor cinema this evening, with orchestral renditions of the famed Star Wars soundtrack performed afterwards.
