‘Star Wars’ bosses make €10,000 lifeboat donation

The producers of Star Wars have left Europe’s most westerly lifeboat, Valentia Lifeboat, a lot richer than previously.

The island-based lifeboat has tackled some of the strongest “forces” off the Irish coast in its 100 years of saving lives at sea in terms of gales, and its crew has several times been recognised for gallantry — but rarely has it been touched by such a single donation.

Just days before the Star Wars crew finished filming scenes for Episode VIII on nearby Skellig Michael three weeks ago, the producers contacted crew members and said they wanted to make a donation.

The operations manager, Richard Foran, confirmed to local newspaper Kerry’s Eye that the sum received was €10,000.

“It was a complete surprise. But I think the lifeboat came to their minds because of what they were doing,” Mr Foransaid yesterday.

It was Lucasfilm/Disney Corporation’s second time in the south Kerry area to film on the Unesco World Heritage Site, called after the Archangel Michael.

Last year, they shot scenes for The Force Awakens, the seventh Star Wars film and the first part of a trilogy due out in December.

The filming on Skellig each year involved a lot of sea travel in conditions that were not easy, and often in choppy seas, Mr Foran said.

Mr Foran, who like all 22 crew on the RNLI lifeboat are volunteers, said they do not receive money from the State and are totally dependant on donations for diesel for their boat and other equipment.

“It wasn’t just talk. The money is in the bank,” Mr Foran said.

The Star Wars producers did not want any publicity.

“We suggested setting up a photo shoot on the lifeboat and such but they declined — they didn’t want any publicity.

“They simply wanted to make a donation,” he said.

Like other Irish RNLI lifeboats, Valentia provides a free service, but it is finding it difficult to raise funds.

“We are totally dependant on voluntary contributions. But it is getting more and more difficult. This donation is fantastic for us,” Mr Foran said.

This weekend, the 19th annual Valentia Lifeboat charity cycle takes place in south Kerry and the operation depends on charity box donations. Much of its funding comes from the UK from legacies he said.

There has been a lifeboat presence in the area since 1864 and last year, Valentia Lifeboat celebrated 100 years of saving lives at sea.

Crew members have several times received awards for gallantry.