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YESTERDAY (May 4) is commonly known as “Star Wars Day” – a special day of celebration for fans of the science fiction franchise everywhere. Tourism Ireland took advantage of this unofficial Star Wars holiday, giving an extra promotional push to its recently launched ‘behind-the-scenes’ Star Wars film.

Using #MayThe4thBeWithYou, Tourism Ireland joined the online conversation to promote its specially commissioned film via Twitter and Facebook in ten different countries – including Britain, the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. May 4th is the date chosen by fans to celebrate Star Wars because of the easy pun on the famous catchphrase “May the Force be with you” (“May the Fourth be with you”) to declare their love of the franchise.

Over the 24-hour period, Tourism Ireland targeted Star Wars fans through its social media channels – reminding them of the film’s connection with Kerry and Ireland – with messages like:
· Luke speaks! Hear what he said about that Irish island from #StarWars The Force Awakens
· Happy #StarWars Day! Get behind the scenes in Ireland with Luke, Rey and more
· May the 4th be with YOU! Go behind the scenes of #StarWars in Ireland with Luke and more!

Tourism Ireland commissioned LucasFilm to create its special “behind-the-scenes” film during the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Skellig Michael in 2014. In the film, Star Wars actors, director JJ Abrams and other crew members discuss why they chose this special location for filming. It has already been viewed on YouTube and Facebook more than two million times.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been breaking box office records everywhere and Tourism Ireland continues to capitalise on all of the positive exposure, highlighting the Star Wars connection with Ireland and bringing the magnificent scenery of Skellig Michael and the Wild Atlantic Way to the attention of millions of people around the world.”

View the behind-the-scenes film below...

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Pictured above: Harrison Ford attends the Star Wars: The Force Awakens fan event at Sydney Opera House. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios

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