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Is Star Wars finished with filming at the Skelligs? Here's what we know

We got some answers.

THE SKELLIGS WILL most likely feature in the next Star Wars movie, but filming on them is believed to have finished.

There are rumours, however, that a replica of the Skelligs has been recreated so that the crew will not need to return to the islands, which feature in Episode VII, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (which took in over $1 billion in record time).

These rumours, from a Star Wars fan blog, haven’t been confirmed by anyone involved in the film – and it being Star Wars, it is to be expected that details on the next instalment of the sequel trilogy (to be written and directed by Rian Johnson, though JJ Abrams is still on board as producer) are kept under wraps.

What we do know, however, is that filming of the Skelligs for Episode VIII does appear to have already taken place at the monastic settlement.

TheJournal.ie got in touch with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to ask about the rumours. They said:

The Department understands that the filming carried out on Skellig Michael in September 2015 was for Star Wars Episode 8.
The inclusion of Skellig Michael in Star Wars Episode 7, which is currently in cinemas, will have a significant and lasting impact on the Irish tourism industry.
The Department is not in a position to comment on any potential future film projects, due to the sensitive and confidential nature of such projects.

Back in September, Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed that three days of filming had been completed that month on Skellig Michael.

When contacted about the rumours, Pinewood Studios – said to be the site of the reconstructed Skelligs, and where some of the filming of The Force Awakens took place – said it could not comment on any aspect of Star Wars filming.

Lucasfilm has been contacted for a comment, but has not yet replied.

Skellig Michael renovation work PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

So, the jury is out on whether Lucasfilm will return to the Skelligs, but we will, no doubt, be informed if the crew are set to return.

We don’t know if the Skelligs might be recreated so that new filming can be done, or to re-do footage that was shot at the islands already.

One thing we do know – filming in the UNESCO protected site wasn’t without its issues.

Permission to film at the Skelligs was granted despite objections from environmental groups like An Taisce, and the fact Birdwatch Ireland was very concerned about the safety of the puffins and seabirds that make the island their home.

Did filming cause damage?

A report published by the National Parks and Wildlife service in October of last year found that the filming had no adverse impact on seabirds or their habitats.

It did highlight two ‘minor incidents’, where a crew member snagged a jacket sleeve on the entranceway to the Upper Monks’ Garden, and a small amount of diluted water-based paint was spilled on rocks adjacent to the Wailing Woman.

The hope is that the featuring of the Skelligs in The Force Awakens will act as a boon to the Irish tourism industry.

We already found out today that director JJ Abrams and team sure did love their time there.

Read: Tourism Ireland hopes this video will send Star Wars fans flocking to Skellig Michael>

Read: Skellig Michael’s obscurity is about to end ‘in a blaze of silver-screen glory’>

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24 Comments
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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:26 PM

    A dose of thumps would do that lad no harm.

    186
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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:27 PM

    Douchebaggery. God be with the times when this stuff would see you labelled a bol*x, not an internet sensation.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 13th 2016, 1:41 AM

    haha you guys.

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    Mute Uncle Denise
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:26 PM

    How is this news? I want interesting news not crap like this!!!

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    Mute Tomás O'Loughlin
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:28 PM

    It’s the Daily Edge. Want news, read a newspaper. DE is for entertainment/switching off from too much news.

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    Mute Johnneary
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:24 PM

    I find the title of this article is a tad bit disingenuous.
    Real men don’t do these things.

    25
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    Mute Byyys
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:26 PM

    A whooping 82,742 Views… I guess from a journalist point of view this has gone “viral”?

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    Mute Your Defence
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:58 PM

    1.2 million on YouTube, only been up a day.

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    Mute Eoin Milner
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:29 PM

    Shared….

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    Mute Eoin Milner
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:29 PM

    Like it matters anyway….

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    Mute Notthatguy
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:42 AM

    Ya make money from hits….. This guy had a plan, and it seems to be working, so fair play, ignore what many Irish are famous for, begrudgers……

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    Mute bacoxy
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:26 PM

    She has set a good eggsample to other mothers

    53
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    Mute Jonny Irish
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:51 PM

    You’re some yolk!

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    Mute Noel Tate
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    Feb 13th 2016, 11:33 AM

    That pun doesn’t egg-wash with me.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:56 PM

    I wouldn’t dare throw an egg at my mammy , it’s so disrespectful .. Plus the fact that l would be more afraid of what gets thrown back at me !

    41
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    Mute john truman
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:18 PM

    I would throw him out of the house

    26
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    Mute Luke Sarpish
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:28 PM

    Jackass was doing this stuff 15 years ago.Have no idea why there is an article on this. Is he going to become a drug addict and kill himself in a car crash too?.

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    Mute family guy
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:15 PM

    Luke the kids of today don’t recall jackass. It’s all new to them.

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:14 AM

    Right that’s it, I want to leave this planet.

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    Mute baz newham
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:16 PM

    Like throwing eggs at your mother !…..like who gives a f&&k!

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    Mute Cill Dará Abú
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:22 PM

    Oh big man, throwing eggs and his mum. Has he no mates to this sort of idiotic prank on

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    Mute zebedee
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    Feb 12th 2016, 9:31 PM

    I do eggsactly the same to my mam each day….but my mam’s better. If she lets the egg fall its scrambled for breakfast….if she catches, it’s boiled or fried sunny side up.

    12
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    Mute John Fergus
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    Feb 12th 2016, 11:18 PM

    well presumably the video is monetized and some people will subscribe to his channel after seeing this video. this could be a very good money spinner for him, hopefully he will deal in his long suffering mother………….otherwise he’s a c##t.

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    Mute fitzz30
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:06 AM

    Wow that guy is amazing. He should get his own tv show with a prime time slot.

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    Mute Zandranalily
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    Feb 13th 2016, 3:10 AM

    She should try throwing a few back.

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    Mute John Doe
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    Feb 12th 2016, 10:56 PM

    Mad yoke..

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    Mute Malcolm Lackey
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    Feb 13th 2016, 12:40 PM

    I like the way no one is taking responsibility for putting this tripe up!! No one wants to see a poor oul one getting egged, why yas even giving this sap publicity?

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    Mute ginger tomcat
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    Feb 13th 2016, 11:34 AM

    What would be nice is if a few people return favour to him at unexpected points throughout next year

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    Mute Lilly Ella
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    Feb 13th 2016, 8:07 AM

    I think it’s great craic…….as long as he does the cleaning up after an egg breaks.

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