.A photo taken by Top Gear host Chris Evans while driving around Slea Head back in April.
THE Top Gear episode which will feature Kerry will be on our TV sets this Sunday on BBC2 at 8pm.
Back in April the BBC crew with presenters Matt Le Blanc and Chris Evans were bewitched by our county’s spectacular beauty and took to social media and the airwaves singing its praises.
Now the result of filming will be seen by almost 2.5m people on Sunday, but won’t be shown on RTE 2 until a later date due to the coverage of Euro 2016.
Expect to see the glorious lakes of Killarney, Kenmare and the Dingle peninsula at its finest as the weather was wonderful during the weekend of filming. Kerry is sure to get a tourism boost after it airs to the masses.
The eyes of the nation – and beyond – have been upon us as the ‘Top Gear’ team rolled into Killarney, Kenmare and west Kerry, while the weather has played a huge part in making for a magnificent showcase of our wonderful county.
Top Gear host Chris Evans went on Twitter yesterday to express his astonishment at the Slea Head road…
The day was made great by people from around the county who made their way to see the crew in the south and west Kerry towns, as well as the natives of course who made them so welcome.
Chris Evans went on to post more beautiful shots from his ’76 Rolls Royce Corniche…
These, and numerous other images during the weekend, just shows how much he and his crew were captured by our beautiful home. With the Star Wars crew back in west Kerry, the eyes of the world are on us and they like what they see.
This week Banna will take centre stage with a 1916 commemoration event taking place, which will be televised on RTE.
We’re a county not short on confidence – and rightly so – but has there ever been a time so ripe to capitalise on this sort of publicity?
When the ‘Top Gear’ programme is aired in a few months (how lucky we were with the stunning sunshine to showcase the views!) and the Star Wars publicity set to continue , we can expect a huge spinoff and Tralee can also benefit from this.
I’m sure Tralee Chamber Alliance are already on the case with this, as it’s a huge opportunity to promote the town as a gateway to the peninsula.
But looking beyond the town, we hope the powers-that-be in the county and our politicians (if they ever get their act together in the Dail!) are actively targeting more film and TV production companies to come to the county, to either make movies or travel documentaries.
Tourism is the lifeblood of the county and we have never had it so good. All this and beating the Dubs next weekend to look forward to (fingers crossed). In terms of goodwill and publicity, we’ve never had it so good in Kerry!
.Matt LeBlanc with the Darkness Into Light Tralee poster earlier today in Dingle. Photo Colin ‘Poshey’ Aherne/Facebook
WELL Colin ‘Poshey’ Aherne outdid himself today!
The man who has been working tirelessly to promote the ‘Darkness Into Light’ event in Tralee went out to west Kerry this morning to try to get the support of two very influential people.
The ‘Top Gear’ presenters, Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, were in Ballydavid this morning for a match between Dingle and An Ghaeltacht as part of their filming and Poshey managed to get the two lads to lend their support to the campaign.
In a facebook post earlier, he described what happened:
“Met with actor Matt LeBlanc today. Had a brief talk with him about what Pieta House do in Ireland and what the walk on May 7th is about. He said it didn’t matter what charity it is, suicide prevention and awareness is massive and he hopes loads of people come out and support this event.”
Chris Evans supporting the Darkness Into Light Tralee event today in Dingle. Photo Colin ‘Poshey’ Aherne/Facebook
Similarly he said Chris Evans was equally obliging in the post: “Massive thanks to this nice gentleman Chris Evans for his time to take a picture to help promote Pieta House and Darkness Into Light.”
Well done Poshey and fair play to Matt and Chris for their amazing support for the event. Please head over to the Darkness Into Light Facebook page for more on the event.
SO Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans are in Kerry this weekend and a lot of people are getting excited.
The Top Gear presenters are on the way to Dingle later, probably via Killarney. But if they decided to pass through Tralee on the way, we’re thinking Matt LeBlanc might be channelling his ‘inner Joey’ and get peckish for his beloved sandwiches. Everyone knows Joey loves sandwiches…
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With the help of a few local restaurants, we decided to have a bit of craic and asked them to come up with a ‘Joey Special’ just in case the two lads pop into town for a bite during the weekend.
First we went to the swish surroundings of The Rose Hotel where Head Chef Odran Lucey came up with a gourmet effort to appeal to Joey’s finer tastebuds.
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Odran, who is preparing for the upcoming opening of a new gourmet restaurant in the hotel, rustled up some Dingle Dexter Beef on a country loaf with Cashel Blue cheese, red onion relish and steakhouse chips. We think Joey would approve…
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Next we headed down to Kirby’s Brogue Inn where Noreen O’Mahony came up with two delicious plates.
Noreen O’Mahony of Kirbys Brogue Inn with two ‘Joey Specials’.
Noreen decided Matt would like the home-cooked ham, chicken, crispy cos lettuce, red onion, tomato, mayonnaise and dijon mustard on Barry’s Bread. And because Joey doesn’t share food, for Chris she made a barbecued panini with mayo, barbecue sauce, chicken, melted cheese and mixed peppers.
These sandwiches are better known on the menu as ‘Rock On’ and ‘Barbecued Brogue Panini’ respectively. Here’s how Joey would react….
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Over in Yummy Cafe on Dominick Street, Siobhan O’Sullivan appealed to Joey’s famed love of meat.
Yes, it is indeed Yummy.
She put in some ham, chicken, Spanish chorizo, Serrano ham, tomato, mozzarella cheese and sweet tomato relish with tomato and basil soup to wash it down. We think he’d agree it looks Yummy…
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And finally, if the lads decided to head out for the night they’d need some soakage.
Danny Leane in The Abbey Inn with his ‘Joey Special’.
Danny Leane over in The Abbey Inn created this barbecued pulled pork, served with coleslaw on crispy ciabatta bread with side salad and onion rings. Whaddya think Joe?
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You’d never know, they might pop in after driving the Conor Pass. Any cafes, restaurants or anyone else think they could make a better ‘Joey Special’? Send us your pics via Facebook.
• Thanks to The Rose Hotel, Kirby’s Brogue Inn, Yummy Cafe and The Abbey Inn for taking part
SO the Top Gear boys are definitely going to west Kerry at the weekend and they are looking for spectators to head over to join them watching a football match on Saturday morning over in Gallarus.
Word has it that the crew are already in Killarney filming.
There was speculation that Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans were heading to the Kingdom earlier this week, but the Dingle GAA club Facebook page pretty much confirmed it last night when they posted this up:
“Hi all, Top Gear are filming in the Dingle Area on this Saturday. They wish to include a Gaelic Football match in the programme so we in Dingle GAA, have been asked to help out. A game between a Dingle Selection and An Ghaeltacht selection will be played in Gallarus at 10am. (All ages between 18 & 50 ish are welcome to participate in the match).
Continued below…
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Spectators are also required to attend for the filming of The Game. All are welcome. Those who are available to tog out bring Boots & Togs we will have Jerseys. This will promote The Dingle Peninsula so your attendance is very important .
Míle buíochas. Thanks & please respond if you will be available to attend as either a Player or Spectator. Fáilte roimh chichi.”
So that’s settled then! Let’s hope the two Top Gear lads tog out as well. Stay clear of those O Se lads though Matt…
Matt Le Blanc & Chris Evans i dteannta Top Gear an BBC ag taifead mír caide don gclár @10am i nGallaras Dé Sathairn.Imreoirí 18+ ag teastáil
SEEMS like Matt LeBlanc is preparing himself for a ride along the Wild Atlantic Way which could possibly bring him through our neck of the the woods.
The former ‘Friends’ star has posted a video of the Wild Atlantic Way on Twitter with a message attached, reading “Looks like an awesome drive”.
The video shows footage of the drive from Donegal down to West Cork, including footage of Kerry.
LeBlanc, along with BBC broadcasting heavyweight Chris Evans, will co-host the new incarnation of the world’s biggest motor TV show, Top Gear.
Chris Evans on Wednesday dropped a hint on UK radio saying “Matt and I are going to Ireland on Friday to make a couple of ‘Top Gear’ films that will be combined. We’re thinking of going to the Dingle area.”
IT looks like former ‘Friends’ star Matt Le Blanc is coming to Kerry this weekend with his ‘Top Gear’ co-presenter Chris Evans.
Speaking on his BBC Radio show this morning, Chris Evans said; “Matt and I are going to Ireland on Friday to make a couple of ‘Top Gear’ films that will be combined. We’re thinking of going to the Dingle area.”
He then asked his newsreader, who is familiar with the area, about Dingle and she said; “It’s beautiful, wonderful food, lovely pubs”.
To which he replied; “We won’t have time for any of that! Technically we’ll be working. We’ll try and eke out some time for a bit of socialising.”
Killorglin could also get a visit from the duo Evans said, but it looks like he wants to stick to the coast.
“We don’t want to go inland, we want to go on the coast road. It’s better for shots,” he said. Let’s hope the weather is kind to them and Matt won’t have to dress like this…
