At the centre of the photo shoot is celebrated Indian actress, Katrina Kaif, who was in Ireland to film Bollywood movie Ek Tha Tiger ('Once There Was A Tiger').
The Harper's Bazaar story will include lots of images shot at Slane, as well as an interview with the Bollywood star in which she reveals some of her favourite places in Ireland. The story is designed to highlight Ireland as a high-end and fashionable destination to the 55,000 readers of Harper's Bazaar in India.
Tourism Ireland said it is confident that the coverage and interview with such a high-profile actress in Harper's Bazaar will help to boost awareness of Ireland among India's growing middle classes who have the potential to come here on holidays.
"Tourism Ireland is delighted that Harper's Bazaar magazine chose Slane Castle as the location for this photo shoot with such a major star," said Jim Paul, Tourism Ireland's head of Australia and developing markets.
"The Indian film industry is the largest in the world after Hollywood and its stars have considerable influence on the Indian public. The publicity from this cover story, as well as the interview with Katrina Kaif, will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase Ireland as a 'must-see' and fashionable destination to a mass audience.
"The majority of Ireland's overseas visitors are from the core markets of Great Britain, Mainland Europe and North America, and while this will continue, it is important that we expand our focus beyond these markets and look to the long-term opportunities presented by emerging tourism markets in Asia like India.
"Tourism Ireland in India is working hard to raise the profile of the island of Ireland as a premier holiday destination, highlighting the visa waiver scheme introduced by the Government earlier this year, which has made it easier for tourists from emerging tourism markets to visit Ireland."
Slane the new palace of choice for best of Bollywood
IT may not be the Taj Mahal, but Slane Castle is the new palace of choice for fashionable Bollywood stars.
The historic Meath pile was chosen by the Indian edition of 'Harper's Bazaar' magazine as the perfect backdrop for a fashion shoot, which Tourism Ireland hopes will help draw wealthy Indian tourists to Ireland.
Owner Lord Henry Mountcharles said the atmospheric location was open for business to the film industry.
His Co Meath ancestral home was chosen from a number of famous locations around Ireland in recent weeks to provide the backdrop for a fashion photoshoot featuring one of India's most celebrated actresses, British-born Katrina Kaif.
The photos will feature as the cover story and in a 10-page spread in an upcoming edition of the fashion magazine.
The actress recently starred in a Bollywood movie shot at various locations around Dublin, including Trinity College.
'Ek Tha Tiger' tells the story of a Trinity scientist suspected of selling missile technology secrets to Pakistan.
Lord Mountcharles said the magazine chose Slane for its "magnificent, grand backdrop".
He said that over the decades, the castle has been used as a location for a string of movies and he would be delighted if more filmmakers were to choose to shoot at the castle.
"We have provided Slane over the decades for several movies both mainstream and TV going back to the first 'Great Train Robbery' with Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland.
"French actor Gerard Depardieu filmed some scenes down by the river Boyne during the summer. We love providing a location for movies as it is good for us and also the movie industry employs a lot of people," he added.
Jim Paul of Tourism Ireland pointed to the benefits of the photoshoot, which will feature in the glossy Indian magazine.
"The publicity from this cover story, as well as the interview with Katrina Kaif, will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase Ireland as a 'must-see' and fashionable destination to a mass audience."
- Edel O'Connell
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