Force is strong in Skellig Michael as director JJ Abrams jets in

There have been no sightings of Harrison Ford but cast members of ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ will begin filming tomorrow

The small Co Kerry fishing village was a hive of activity today for the first day of filming but security was tight.

Security personnel took up their posts on the pier at 6am even though it was closer to 8.45am before the first boats left for the island carrying crew members, catering staff and people employed by the production company to carry the equipment and props onto the island.

Director JJ Abrams was also on the island today  on the first day of filming.

A registration board containing the name tags of all personnel showed that his name tag was missing as well as cast members with the initials DW and K, indicating they were on the island.

A private jet landed at Kerry Airport at 10.30am with 16 more crew members and the film’s entourage who were flown over from London.

They were transported to Portmagee before boarding boats at lunchtime, which caused a flurry of excitement on the pier.

However, there was film related activity on the island all last week when the crew first moved into the area.

A photograph posted on social media that showed Mr Abrams posing with a local was removed at the request of the production company.

Owners of local B&Bs, guesthouses and private houses where the production team is staying are all bound by confidentiality contracts.

So are the boatmen, which the Irish Independent learnt have been paid €1,000 per day for each of the three days of filming to compensate them for projected loss of earnings.

Most are also employed on the film to transport crew to the island daily.