Lights, Camera, Action

Tourism Ireland has launched a series of four new online films featuring Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield. Prospective holidaymakers from Canada and around the world are encouraged to visit Ireland and follow in the famous spaceman’s footsteps.

Earlier this year, Tourism Ireland enlisted Hadfield’s help when he visited Ireland — filming the Canadian as he spent several days as a “tourist,” visiting some of Ireland’s top attractions and experiences. The resulting four short videos are called “An Astronaut’s Guide to the Island of Ireland.”

The short films feature Donegal and the spectacular scenery of the Inishowen Peninsula, starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way. It also features some charming footage of Chris learning ‘cúpla focal’ Gaeilge from some of the local schoolchildren in Buncrana; as well as an evening of traditional music in McGrory’s of Culdaff. The other three films feature the popular attractions of Titanic Belfast and Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse, as well as footage of Chris learning to play hurling at the GAA clubs of Na Fianna in Dublin and Cushendall in Co Antrim.

All four films are available to view on Ireland.com – http://www.ireland.com/en-ca/articles/chris-hadfield – and are being shared by Tourism Ireland with its Facebook fans (over two million worldwide) and Twitter followers, and on its YouTube channel.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said: “Chris Hadfield is one of the few people on earth who has seen Ireland from space, and on the ground. These are four great films which I’m certain will persuade people from around the world to pay their own visit to Ireland. We’re delighted that Chris had such a good time during his stay and hopefully he’ll be back for another visit in the near future.”