Mark Hamill will be the International Guest of Honour at this year’s St. Patrick’s Festival. The ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ actor is set to make an appearance at the National Festival Parade on March 17 in Dublin, where he will watch the parade from the Presidential stand.

The special guest is chosen each year for their special connection or affinity with Ireland, with Mark being selected because of his love for the country and also as he recently filmed scenes for ‘Star Wars’ in Ireland. Skellig Michael, an island off the coast of Kerry, was used as one of the locations for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ as it is where Rey finds the lost Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill).

Susan Kirby, St. Patrick’s Festival CEO, has said: “The role of International Guest of Honour is something we have been considering for a few years. There are so many examples of Irish people and the diaspora achieving eminence across many different art forms and disciplines worldwide.