Alien bids to lure tourists to Kerry Dark Sky reserve

First it was Star Wars now it is the Alien film franchise that is helping attract visitors to the newly opened ‘Dark Sky’ reserve centre in Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry.

A striking life-size sculpture made from scrap metal of one the murderous monsters from the Alien series, starring Sigourney Weaver, has landed outside the former Garda station and is appropriately fitted with flashing blue lights.

Director of the successful bid to gain the prestigious international award of gold-tier Dark Sky reserve status for her adopted homeland of southwest Kerry, Julie Ormonde said the sculpture “weighed a tonne” and was on long-term loan.