Stop everything. Luke Skywalker is in Ireland… and he’s loving it

The force is strong in the Kingdom, it seems…

In case you’ve been living in the further reaches of the galaxy for the last few weeks, you’ll know that a very important part of the forthcoming Star Wars: Episode VII is to be filmed on the World Heritage island of Skellig Michael in Kerry. Some folk in the Kingdom know Han Solo only as something that their heroes in green and gold would do on a GAA pitch, but it caused plenty of excitement in the region and indeed in the country as a whole; Star Wars fans wouldn’t be particularly shy about professing their love for the series after all. It would appear as if JJ Abrams and the rest of the cast have landed in the south-west today and they seem to have instantly adapted to their surroundings. Just look at what the man who will play Luke Skywalker had to say…

Ireland you are wonderful! Love the country, love the people! — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 31, 2014

  Meanwhile, while we’re on the topic, kudos to The Kerryman for this brilliant front-page headline reporting that the Navy have been called in to enforce the exclusion zone at Skellig Michael…

The Kerryman's front page yesterday was very good http://t.co/mBFcNyCpRM (via http://t.co/0XrXKPhSTu) — Eoghan O'Sullivan (@OSEoghan) July 31, 2014

  Well played folks, very well played indeed.