Audio-Visual Boat Tour
This Audio Visual Boat Tour takes you on a journey like no other. The tour departs from Portmagee Marina in Co. Kerry and takes about 1 hour. Augmented Reality (AR) blends virtual interactive content into the real world environment providing you with a rich immersive experience as the boat moves from the departure point at the marina, exploring the harbour, meandering through the small coastal islands and out to sea.
Experience the joy of nature while learning about the history, wildlife and movies that were filmed here including Star Wars and Harry Potter. The tour is a fun, educational adventure and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Watch as the monks prepare for their journey to Skellig Michael
View the Kerry Cliffs and Puffin Island from the boat
Learn about the puffins, gannets, guillemots and the many birds that make their home here
We show you the transatlantic cable that connected America and Europe for the first time
See the World War II lookout tour and hear the stories of fighter planes that crashed nearby
We rarely have to cancel this tour because of the sea and weather conditions because it involves going less than 3 miles (5 kms) out to sea and the boat is mostly sheltered by the islands and inlets throughout. But, just in case, it is important that you enter the correct phone number and email when you make a booking, so we are able to contact you if we have to cancel or reschedule your tour.
Kerry Cliffs and Puffin Island
Kerry Cliffs were formed more then 400 million years ago and stretch over 1000ft (300m) above the Atlantic Ocean. It is a spectacular sight to look up at these cliffs from the boat at sea level.
Puffin Island is a designated a nature reserve under the conservancy of BirdWatch Ireland. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow sound and is home to thousands of pairs of Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels and other breeding seabirds.
Skellig Michael Staging Point
Monastery for pilgrims going to Skelligs Rock
Illaunloughan is an island monastic settlement founded around AD 670 shortly after the Christian monks started building the monastic settlement on Skellig Michael. It is thought to have been a stopping-off point for pilgrims travelling to Skellig Michael. There are 8th century stone oratories and altars on the island. Archaeologists have found eating utensils containing the remnants of fish, birds, meat and oats. Decorated relics covered in quartz and scallop shells were also found providing a possible link between here and the Camino de Santiago or perhaps the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Movie Magic – Star Wars
The most recent three Star Wars movies had scenes filmed in the area in 2014 and 2015 with JJ Abrams choosing it as a location for Ahch-To, Luke Skywalker’s retreat. Parts of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were also filmed here in 2008.
Seabirds and Wildlife Guide
Learn all about the abundance of seabirds and animals that make their home here.
Before the Transatlantic Cable was laid between Valentia Island in Co. Kerry, Ireland and Heart’s Content in New Foundland, Canada in 1866 all communications were sent by boat across the Atlantic. It took about two weeks for a message to be sent to Europe from North America and vice versa.
Valentia Transatlantic Cable – Centre of global communication
The feat of engineering in laying this cable was incredible given the technology at the time. People have compared the achievement to landing a man on the moon. It took several attempts and required the use of the biggest ship in the world at the time. On our Augmented Reality boat tour we bring this story to life.