Warm welcome for Star Wars heroes at Dingle wrap party

They arrived fashionably late but, once there, Star Wars actors Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley partied into the night at Foxy John’s in Dingle.

The two biggest stars of the latest DisneyLucasFilm blockbuster were finally able to let their hair down once filming of the latest installment of the Star Wars franchise was completed on Wednesday.

Our pictures show the pair enjoying themselves with colleagues who had worked with them on the production for the past number of weeks at locations along the western seaboard.

Hamill, who plays Jedi knight Luke Skywalker, arrived at the Main St venue shortly after 11.10pm by jeep, accompanied by two companions, including his pet dog Millie.

Mark Hamill arrives at Foxy John’s, where security around the wrap party was tight

The actor happily posed for pictures with fans before announcing he wanted to comb his hair before greeting his fellow cast and crew members inside the pub, which had been a popular haunt throughout the week.

Any ban on dogs on the premises was clearly overlooked and a special exemption was granted to Millie, who was on a lead.

However, before going in the actor, who plays Luke Skywalker, told the Irish Examiner he’d enjoyed his time in Kerry and was sorry to leave.

Inside, the mood was much more welcoming than Chalmun’s cantina in Mos Eisley, the seedy venue where Luke Skywalker first meets Han Solo in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope.

Daisy Ridley, who plays the heroine Rey in episodes seven and eight, was also enjoying the party and got to sample life at the other side of the counter, pulling pints in the famous pub.

Daisy Ridley gives a helping hand behind the bar at the Star Wars wrap party in Foxy John’s pub in Dingle, Co Kerry.

This wasn’t her first time sampling Dingle’s nightlife, as she had already been spotted around town and was in the Courthouse pub on The Mall a few nights previously.

Security at Foxy John’s was more fitting of an exclusive Hollywood venue than a pub in west Kerry. Black blinds kept prying eyes at bay and entry was strictly by identification tags or guest list.

The few locals and tourists who approached the doors looking to get in were told it was a private party.

All happily moved on and crossed the road to Curran’s or went elsewhere.

Director Rian Johnson: Filming along the western seaboard.

Early arrivals outside the door included six-year-old Daryl Ferriter from Dingle in his Kylo Ren costume who had dragged along his twin brother Gordon and parents Tatiana and Johnny, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of one of his heroes before bedtime.

Apart from a few curious souls who watched the comings and goings from outside Curran’s across the road, nobody was really too pushed about what was happening inside.

As one local who had gained entry put it: “Sure if you wanted to see the stars you could have gone out around Dingle any night of the week and seen them.”