The 'Gathering'. What's it all about?

[PaddyJoe]

Hadn't quite got to grips with all this 'Gathering' stuff but finally there's a bit of acerbic commentary out there
Strong language warning applies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wt9CiM5KdA

[Holly]

I think is is supposed to be something like An Tóstal.

[DCon]

Kenny is off on a joly to the US to promote this.

And tell them that Ireland is "open for business"

[Sam Lord]

Hadn't quite got to grips with all this 'Gathering' stuff but finally there's a bit of acerbic commentary out there
Strong language warning applies.

"800 years of struggle for this.... "

[Dr. FIVE]

"for those who skipped on coffin ships and yet to return with their money"

[Baron von Biffo]

Cuisle mo chroí scutter to get Yank tourists and also a chance of photo ops for Gump.

[Dr. FIVE]

The Site is operated by The Gathering Project 2013 Limited (either "COMPANY" or "we"). The COMPANY is a private limited company, incorporated under the laws of Ireland under registered number 21207, and having its registered office at 88 – 95 Amiens Street, Dublin 1 and operating as a special purpose vehicle as a subsidiary of Fáilte Ireland.

http://www.thegatheringireland.com/I...onditions.aspx

[PaddyJoe]

http://www.thegatheringireland.com/I...onditions.aspx

I guess as an SPV its accounts won't come under the heading of government spending and may not be accessible under FOI?

[Dr. FIVE]

surely required to be audited and publish accounts though?

*strains to recount 2nd year business studies*

[antiestablishmentarian]

I think they're trying to target recent emigrants with this campaign too. The local Irish club has flyers and posters advertising 'the Gathering' and Setanta Australia carries alot of (corny) ads whenever GAA games are on or Celtic are playing. It seems like some kind of scam to capitalise on emigrants returning on holiday and lighten their wallets before waving them away safely out of the country after a couple of weeks.

Also, as far as my knowledge of company law goesall companies on the register must submit annual accounts or face being wound up.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Irish company law- class- 'if ye don't publish accounts we'll cover that up for you by winding the whole thing up and call it confidential'.

That'll larn people.

As far as this gathering caper goes it is effectively a way for the Irish Government to pass around the begging bowl among people who should laugh in their faces. There is something grim about successive Irish Governments and their habit of mismanagement of the country which operates the old 'it is a small island policy and shur they are only young people enjoying seeing the world' with a smirk and then attempting to operate the 'loyalty' card and asking for some of the money that emigrants earn abroad.

You'd want to be as thick as two short planks to fall for this nonsense. The diaspora would be better off saving their money for gunrunning into Ireland. Money much better spent.

I wonder how the 'certificates of Irishness' are going down? The country is corrupt enough but this 'gathering' thing should be found pretty offensive in its aims by the diaspora and should only produce a general '***** off, tart'.

[antiestablishmentarian]

What I reckon they are trying to achieve from this as well is an amplification of tourist figures. Tourism is an area the Government targeted as a growth sector along in their jobs plan last year, if they can somehow spin numbers returning to visit family as tourists come to the 'best little country in the world' they can trumpet this as a growth in visitor numbers.

[Kev Bar]

That clip is genius.

[fluffybiscuits]

Irish company law- class- 'if ye don't publish accounts we'll cover that up for you by winding the whole thing up and call it confidential'.

That'll larn people.

As far as this gathering caper goes it is effectively a way for the Irish Government to pass around the begging bowl among people who should laugh in their faces. There is something grim about successive Irish Governments and their habit of mismanagement of the country which operates the old 'it is a small island policy and shur they are only young people enjoying seeing the world' with a smirk and then attempting to operate the 'loyalty' card and asking for some of the money that emigrants earn abroad.

You'd want to be as thick as two short planks to fall for this nonsense. The diaspora would be better off saving their money for gunrunning into Ireland. Money much better spent.

I wonder how the 'certificates of Irishness' are going down? The country is corrupt enough but this 'gathering' thing should be found pretty offensive in its aims by the diaspora and should only produce a general '***** off, tart'.

Funny you should mention that Capn as there has not been a huge uptake in the certs of heritage that the Dept of Foreign Affairs have issues. Freedom of Info request by the Irish Times showed that the figures have been low, only 1042 certs in the last while. Of course they are stressing that we should look at it "in the context of other schemes"

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...325868423.html

At a later meeting in May 2012 department officials shared a draft proposal to relax the requirements to provide documentary evidence of their Irish ancestry on a trial basis. Applicants who do not have documentary evidence can now give narrative information on their ancestors instead of providing documentation.

Although the certificate scheme is funded solely by the €40 fee paid by applicants, the department has spent €2,714 on the scheme to date.

Regarding the gathering, Im still not convinced. We did discover we have family over the world recently but we cant be arsed inviting them back over, too much effort...

[ang]

Gabriel Byrne slams The Gathering - calls it a "scam" -

Byrne, who previously served as the cultural ambassador for Ireland in the US, said many who left Ireland for the US feel abandoned by the Government - and that the bridge between Ireland and its diaspora is broken.

He also said Irish-Americans are not receptive to being "shaken down" for money.

The Gathering is a tourism initiative to entice people with Irish connections to visit the country during 2013.

Speaking on The Last Word on Today FM today, which was broadcast from New York, Byrne said the Taoiseach’s speech launching The Gathering was "slightly offensive."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...1hGvfR.twitter