Tourism Ireland says it intends to build on the success of the new Star Wars movie and Game of Thrones, in attracting more visitors here.
2015 has been a bumper year with almost 8 million tourists arriving in Ireland - a rise of 11 percent on last year.
Ireland's best ever year for tourism is due in part to the currency gains from the US Dollar and Sterling; and additional routes from the US.
Scenes for the new Star Wars movie were filmed at Skellig Michael, Co Kerry.
Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland Niall Gibbons said " Star Wars is one of the biggest brands in the world, and Game of Thrones is one of the biggest series that HBO has ever produced and that's helped us encourage more people to visit Northern Ireland".
The Force Awakens gets its Irish premiere at The Savoy on O'Connell Street this evening, before cinemas across Dublin put on special midnight screenings.
