Many scenes from the first two seasons of the show, which is based on the books by George RR Martin, were also filmed on location at the Paint Hall studio in Belfast and around Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday, UTV caught up with just some of those involved as the cast and crew descended on Shane's Castle, near Randalstown in Co Antrim.

Nicolaj Coster-Waldau, best known to fans of the show as Ser Jamie Lannister, and Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne of Tarth, were among those in action.

The writers have decided to divide Book Three into two seasons. I know George is a huge fan of the series and I think he has a lot more stories to be told, so I'm confident that he'll keep up.

Frank Doelger, HBO

Northern Ireland, with its many historic landmarks, has proved the perfect backdrop for scenes like those set in the cold northern parts of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

"We've been able to find an incredible variety of locations," Frank Doelger, one of the executive producers of the series, told UTV.

"The weather is definitely a challenge, but I have to let you know that we've been rained out in Malta, we've been rained out in Croatia, we've been snowed out in Iceland.

"So all the other areas that we've gone to have been challenging as well."

And those working on the show have been delighted to see the local talent pool growing in the three years that they've been working in Northern Ireland.

They feel that will help encourage other filmmakers to take advantage of what the landscape has to offer - they're just not exactly looking to share.

"I really hate to think that we're going to have a lot of competition, that people will be trailing after us and stealing all our great locations," Frank Doelger laughed.

"But, of course, it's great for the industry."

So while locals may still be hoping for a glimpse of summer in Northern Ireland, Game of Thrones devotees are delighted winter is coming ...