Kristian Nairn, who hails from Lisburn in Northern Ireland, played Hodor in Game of Thrones and is considered one of the most recognisable figures of the global television phenomenon.
His new book, Beyond the Throne is a memoir which brings readers on a journey through his difficult childhood in 80s Belfast, to learning on-the-job for his role of Hodor.
It is said to bring readers behind-the-scenes of the iconic TV show. Mr Nairn shares insights into the camaraderie that developed on set, as well as the life-changing role that made him a worldwide star.
Tickets for this event are €19.99 and it includes a copy of Beyond the Throne, which you can get signed by the author.
Nairn will sign copies of his book at Eason O’Connell Street on Saturday, October 12 at 12pm.
Meanwhile, a new study conducted by Tour Operator Software Provider Bókun has uncovered the TV shows which have had the biggest impact on European tourism over the years.
It has been revealed that Game of Thrones has helped Dublin rank second in Europe for TV tourism. Many scenes were filmed from Northern Ireland, but there are tours that take visitors to and from Dublin.
Set-jetting is one of the biggest travel trends influencing consumers today. Films like Saltburn, which starred Summerhill actor Barry Keoghan, have seen locations such as the UK’s Drayton House soaring in search demand since its release in December 2023.
Bókun has analysed review data for each TV show tour in Europe on Tripadvisor and Viator. This allowed them to estimate the total number of tourists booking each tour to assess the annual revenue they are bringing into their respective locations.
The study revealed that out of all the European countries analysed, Dublin came second among those benefiting most from TV tourism, generating an estimated €3.8 million from 40,800 visitors from Game of Thrones tours.
Dublin was beaten by only one other location, Dubrovnik. The Croatian city benefitted the most by a long mile, with Game of Thrones-themed tours, such as the ones provided by Silverscreen Tours, contributing 99pc of Croatia’s total income from TV tourism.
Breaking away from the monopoly that Game of Thrones seems to have, Paris followed in third place thanks to Emily in Paris, welcoming over 20,000 visitors and contributing an estimated €1.8 million to its economy through tours inspired by the show.
