The producers of legendary movie franchise Star Wars have shown their support of lifesavers- not lightsabers- by making a sizeable donation to Co Kerry's Valentia Lifeboat Station.

While filming the latest instalment, Episode VIII, at nearby island Skellig Michael, the Lucasfilm team contacted the lifeboat station to offer a generous sum of €10,000.

Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Richard Foran suggests the moviemakers may have thought of lifeboats as they tackled rough seas on location. 'They didn't ask for publicity- they simply wanted to make a donation,' he says.