In 10 years, it has become a bona fide bucket-list adventure. We map 26 stories that show how the Wild Atlantic Way changed our coastal holidays…
10 years of the Wild Atlantic Way – three words that changed Irish tourism forever
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The Wild Atlantic Way was officially launched in April 2014. The decade since has seen it transform tourism and home, and how Ireland is seen overseas. Here, three travel writers that have been exploring the route since its launch share a vibrant selection of its stories…
If there’s one movie that’s had a monumental impact on the Wild Atlantic Way, it’s Star Wars (sorry, Banshees). In fact, shooting for Star Wars: The Force Awakens took place in Kerry at the dawn of the Wild Atlantic Way, back in 2014. Skellig Michael, once home to sixth-century monks, became the planet of Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker was exiled. It was a big coup, particularly as Mark Hamill took on an unofficial role as an Ireland ambassador (“I was sure it was a special effect”). Since then, we’ve seen it all — a May The Fourth Be With You festival, huge ad campaigns from Tourism Ireland (including a billboard in space) and specialised tours. Bren Whelan of donegalclimbing.ie worked on Star Wars: The Last Jedi when it was being shot in Donegal, and he runs walking tours of Malin Head, combining local history with insider Star Wars knowledge — you can even don Donegal tweed Jedi robes. “Malin Head has such a long, rich history, and Star Wars is a new chapter in that story,” he says. — NB
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