Droves of Star Wars fans arrive

Fans of Star Wars have spoken of how the blockbuster is putting Malin Head and the wider north west region on the map.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2016, 13:54 BST
Updated 16th May 2016, 17:46 BST
Fredrique and Trevor Wilcox (centre) with their sons Etienne and Emile.Fredrique and Trevor Wilcox (centre) with their sons Etienne and Emile.
Fredrique and Trevor Wilcox (centre) with their sons Etienne and Emile.

Thousands flooded into the area over the past week, and we spoke to some of those who made the trip on Sunday.

Throughout the day there was a steady flow of people walking along the back shore behind the pier and on to an elevated outcrop overlooking one of the filming locations only to be turned back by security. Others meanwhile tried their luck along the highways and by-ways leading from the Port Ronan side of Bamba’s Crown as the filming continued amid glorious sunshine.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The vast majority of people were just excited to be there.

Steady flow of people heading to try and get a glimpse of the action at Malin Head.Steady flow of people heading to try and get a glimpse of the action at Malin Head.
Steady flow of people heading to try and get a glimpse of the action at Malin Head.

Avid Star Wars fans Robert and Mary O’Brien from New Mills outside Letterkenny had made the 90 minute journey with their children Siobhan (9) and Tommy (12).

Robert said: “We’re huge Star Wars fans, we have seen all the films and have the box sets. It is great to see this level of activity, which is, I suppose, only normal given what’s happening here. It’s great for the local businesses. We have bought coffee and sweets and will be stopping for a bite to eat on the way back, so this is a big boost to the economy with so many people coming.”

Mary added: “I have had cousins FaceTiming me from America and they can’t believe it, especially as they were here last year. I can’t wait for the film to come out now.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If it looks anywhere as great as Skellig looked in the last film that would be brilliant,” Robert added.

Steady flow of people heading to try and get a glimpse of the action at Malin Head.Steady flow of people heading to try and get a glimpse of the action at Malin Head.
Steady flow of people heading to try and get a glimpse of the action at Malin Head.

Darren McFadden, Sean Spokes and Phoebe McDonald had less of a hike to get to the Head, having come from Buncrana. The friends said it was great to see Malin and Inishowen being put on the map.

Trevor and Frederique Wilcox had travelled from Coleraine with their sons, Star Wars fans Etienne and Emile. Emile said: “The fact it has come so close we wanted to take the opportunity to see if we could get a view of the film set.”

Strabane man Kieran McGrath was also there with his family. “It will definitely put Malin on the map. There’s a lot of tourism about and a lot of people down to see it.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added that he would like to see more big productions arriving in the north west.“It’s a lovely part of the world. If we got the weather we would never leave it.”

Also arriving from Tyrone was young Omagh Star Wars Jack Verner (11) with his parents. Jack had watched the most recent Star Wars films “about three times”, he said, adding that he was very excited to see the next film after visiting the scene.