Gabriel Byrne says the Gathering is a scam.

Death and Taxes

Well said that man, it's about time someone called this what it actually is, another attempt to shake down and rip off the "Oirish" abroad!
No doubt the government hope it will do better than their failed "Certificate of Irish Heritage" scam.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1106/the-gathering-gabriel-byrne.html

gobnaitolunacy

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a scam more an ill-thought out, hazy nebulous 'thing'.

The Certificate was a miserable scrap of paper not even worthy of a tourist tat shop. Even the stereotypically stupid Yanks aren't fooled by it...http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-Heritage-Certificate-scheme-a-dud-as-Irish-Americans-pass-on-it-176231171.html


No doubt the hotels will be scamming anyway, riiiding everyone for major events.

MagicMarker

The Gatherwhat?

Sunnyisland

Maybe if the Government did more about the source of our emigration of our young people instead of treating it as some sort of export commodity we could take this more seriously, Sure lets all have a party of all the Irish people who left Ireland, many with no alternatives. It be great craic.

bgrizzley

Agree with Byrne. Sounds like they've creamed all they can out of the people here, now they want to try and scam what they can off the Irish who arent.

Stench Blossoms

Yeh I kinda agree with him. Most people I know that are living abroad come home once a year for Christmas. None of them will be coming over twice in a year.

Gummy Panda

The Gathering?

is this something to do with highlander?

deelite

Don't understand the concept of this "gathering" at all.

SEPT 23 1989

So the elite have the begging bowl out for people who had to leave a failed corrupt state because of the actions of the elites from previous generations

have they no shame?:mad:

Plazaman

Waste of money in design, printing and marketing. If it was instead spent in trying to keep a few of the 90,000 + people (mainly under 30's) who emigrated in the last 18 months at home, that would be a gathering I'd welcome.

Perfect gobshítery type thinking from the powers that be - now that we've ran ye out of the country to look for work abroad, bring back some of that lovely money you've earned. Enda "Fagin" Kenny.

Sunnyisland

Gummy Panda wrote: »

The Gathering?

is this something to do with highlander?

From the Dawn of Time we came, moving silently down through the centuries. Living many secret lives. Struggling to reach the Time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you...until now.

Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez



"There can be only one,"

Tombo2001

Personally I'm sick of this pr*ck and others like him, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson......popping back over here once every two years, appear on the Late Late Show or whatever, and lecture us on what a ****-hole it is and what a **** job we are doing with a country that he chooses not to live in..........

There were plenty of people here in this country questioning the gathering but they never made it to the front page of the Indo.

But some pr*ck who makes good in Amerikay, sucking on the tit of the worlds most unequal democracy, where 43 million people are food stamps...... well they gotta be listened to.....

To be honest, i'd blame the media for giving him exposure......everyones entitled to their opinion.....but for some reason his is up there in lights all the time.

Dravokivich

MagicMarker wrote: »

The Gatherwhat?

THere's posters all over town over it, one with a hot scandinavian chick says "This time they're invited."

Typically of an Irish quango, there's no information detailing what exactly she's invited to, as I'd go to give'er'un. :pac:

GavRedKing

They should focus the main celebrations of the Gathering on that other notable Irish holiday, Arthurs Day. :rolleyes:

Ellis Dee

They've got a hell of a nerve., and Gabriel Byrne is quite right to call bullsh1t on their latest attempt to hoodwink the people.:rolleyes:

Successive Irish governments have relied on emigration as a safety valve to relieve the pressure that might have led to real change in this country. Those who departed were largely left to fend for themselves. Until the advent of the Internet, they were mostly hopelessly cut off from meaningful contact with or news about their home country. The government didn't even provide a shortwave radio service.:mad:

But those who succeeded, often against all the odds, in foreign fields were expected to contribute some of their wealth and their abilities to the "auld sod", as though they owed it anything.:rolleyes:

I have Finnish citizenship and, even if I never set foot in Finland again for the rest of my life, I can still go up to the embassy in Dublin and vote in all parliamentary, municipal and presidential elections as well as in any referendums they arrange. They even serve coffee and biscuits and thank you for doing your "duty as a citizen".:) Why can't Ireland show its citizens abroad the same respect?

Why should Irish people abroad give a sh1t about some phoney "gathering" that the corrupt ruling elite here arrange? If that same elite really cared about our citizens abroad, it would treat them they way Finland treats me - with respect for me personally and for my views.:cool:

But that will never happen, because then the wasters that have ruined this country would be swept into the cesspit of history.

Where they belong!:mad:

666irishguy

The way we literally sell our national image abroad always makes me cringe. If it isn't Celtic this or Celtic that it's this kind of semi mystic shyte of distant sons and daughters returning to their motherland. I agree with what realies said 100%. If we actually looked at emigration as a source of national shame and worked to prevent it being forced upon another generation we would be better served than celebrating it and romanticising as part of this national myth of "The Irish (we must refer to ourselves in the third person always)" we have built for ourselves. It's a way of swallowing our own failings in the past and present.

Rhys Essien

Do we not have 3 unofficial gatherings during the year anyway.For Paddys day,Summer hols,and for Christmas.This whole idea is a laughing stock and should have been consigned to the dustbin.

maximoose

I've seen plenty of billboards around Dublin advertising this but hadn't a clue what the hell it was

Just on their site now:

Throughout 2013, Ireland will open its arms to hundreds of thousands of friends and family from all over the world, calling them home to gatherings in villages, towns and cities.

The Gathering is the people’s party. It will kick off in spectacular style at the New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin and will be celebrated through gatherings of the people and Ireland’s major festivals during 2013. After that it is over to you. It is in your hands. Be part of it.

Sounds like an absolute crock of sh*te tbh, a terrible idea drummed up by the boys in morketing. If they focused it on maybe one or two months in the summer and had plenty of events packed in it sounds like it might work, but drawing it out over the year makes me think there'll be a bit of buzz for it around Jan/Feb and then forgotten about.

Stheno

deelite wrote: »

Don't understand the concept of this "gathering" at all.

same here tbh

granturismo

I nearly fell asleep listening to Gabriel Byrne, he's boring and pretentious. He's embarrassed to admit that he acts in movies and TV shows and only want to talk about his stage appearances.

Ian: In treatment was a successful show
Gabby Byrne: Yes, it was well received critically.

So, he's only interested in critics reviews dahllings and not the millions he get from movie and TV roles.

folan

Gabriel Byrne points out truth shocker.

Irish people think rest of world too thick to see it themselves shocker.

Pupito

This Gathering thing is based on a very succesful Scottish one-year initiative from a few years back. But then again they don't seem to tear each other apart over ideas to bump up their tourism figures like it would be a terrible, terrible thing to get more people to come to a country and spend money.

Maybe we should put a stop altogether to advertising the country abroad. Sure we don't deserve the tourism. And the tourists that do come at the moment, we force them at shillelagh-point onto Paddywagon and Viking Splash tours where, God forbid, they may actually have a good time at something we'd consider a bit beneath ourselves.

So next time you see a tourist, narrow your eyes in suspicion, approach and tell them to leave and come back when they're attracted by an advertising campaign that doesn't offend your sensibilities because there's emigration afoot.

SafeSurfer

Gabriel Byrne spoke the truth.

Its just part of the hypocrisy with which we treat our emigrants.

As part of the "Gathering" are we going to extend the franchise to our emigrants like other states with large diasporas? Are we f*ck.

Invite them "home" (do you ever notice how we ask people who have been living abroad for years, how long are you "home" for) fleece them, and send them on their way.

If any of the emigrants that we are inviting "home" decide to stay, even if they have only been away fop a couple of years, they are treated like illegal aliens, with no automatic right to social welfare etc.

vektarman

GavRedKing wrote: »

They should focus the main celebrations of the Gathering on that other notable Irish holiday, Arthurs Day. :rolleyes:

Isn't it Saint Arthurs day??

SafeSurfer

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Personally I'm sick of this pr*ck and others like him, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson......popping back over here once every two years, appear on the Late Late Show or whatever, and lecture us on what a ****-hole it is and what a **** job we are doing with a country that he chooses not to live in..........

Do you not think that these people simply have a higher profile to reflect the general anger of emigrants whose country has failed them?

Tombo2001 wrote: »

But some pr*ck who makes good in Amerikay, sucking on the tit of the worlds most unequal democracy, where 43 million people are food stamps...... well they gotta be listened to.....

And the Taoiseach of a country where 1.8 million people have €100 or less of disposable income each month has the high moral ground?

Leslie91

Scam is the wrong word... it's a shameless attempt at ripping off anybody silly enough to believe Ireland is a place worth coming too for 'The Gathering' (whatever the F that is supposed to be). I don't blame Enda for trying it on mind you, we are screwed, we're broke. Corrupt bankers and politicians have us the way we are and yet they remain untapped.

Enda/Noonan et al, change the freakin laws lads and go after the pensions and salaries of the fat cats instead of asking John or Mick to come back from New York for a €5 or more pint. Start at home with the gravy train that is the elite and many in the public service. Not the nurses or teachers or guards, the wasters pen pushing because it is not retirement age yet.

R P McMurphy

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Do you not think that these people simply have a higher profile to reflect the general anger of emigrants whose country has failed them?




And the Taoiseach of a country where 1.8 million people have €100 or less of disposable income each month has the high moral ground?

Is Gabriel Byrne the cultural ambassador to the US or was that someone else. If it is him this is a bit of a major smack in the face to the whole thing. It sounds pretty ill thought out anyway. Can't see too many falling for the certificate business

Pappa Charlie

Well done Byrne! thanks for calling it like it is, I've noticed this emerging in my area and some of the people involved are the usual suspects (pardon the pun!) who are looking for grants for this and that and see it as a meal ticket, I think we seriously run the risk of turning the very people we are trying to attract away. We've shaken down Joe soap in this country untill hes empty and now we're going after those we forced out. If they Government could tax these emigrants they would in a heart beat!

ejmaztec

realies wrote: »

From the Dawn of Time we came, moving silently down through the centuries. Living many secret lives. Struggling to reach the Time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you...until now.

Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez

"There can be only one,"

It's unfortunate that they're expecting about 60 million.:(

JohnMarston

The Gathering is gonna fall flat anyway, so whats the big deal

yosser hughes

Gabriel was appointed by our former Taoiseach Brian Cowen as a 'cultural ambassador'.Maybe he'd prefer if Fianna Faíl were back in power?
the gathering is just a tourism idea. No harm in it. calling it a scam is a bit harsh.Of course it's an attempt to get more people to come here and spend money.what's wrong with that? Is promoting tourism a scam?

Jaysoose

One example of business entering into the spirit of things is the very generous offer from the K club of 4 rounds plus a gala dinner.

http://www.kclub.ie/gathering-2013

Play at The K Club, €475.00 per golfer

Golfers will enjoy:
4 rounds of golf at The K Club (inclusive of practice round)
Pre dinner Cocktail Party
Gala Dinner
Welcome gift
K Club Prizes

Not a mention of the fact that right now you can play any open comp for €55 a go which means they are looking for eejits to pay €255 for a 3 course meal...thats entering into the rip off spirit of the Gathering alright.

Degringola

Bring over Yanks and then sneer at them behind their backs (stupid, fat, insular etc.)?

Bring over Irish living in UK and then bully their children for their English accents?

Key UK registered cars?

Label them Plastic Paddies?

Great idea!

ejmaztec

Irish government "We're sorry that you all had to leave the country because the only jobs we created were our own, but can you come to the gathering with your new found wealth so we can fleece the arse off you"

geeky

realies wrote: »

From the Dawn of Time we came, moving silently down through the centuries. Living many secret lives. Struggling to reach the Time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you...until now.

Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez



"There can be only one,"

I'd brave a transatlantic flight to watch that.

JohnMarston

realies wrote: »

From the Dawn of Time we came, moving silently down through the centuries. Living many secret lives. Struggling to reach the Time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you...until now.

Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez



"There can be only one,"

Heeeeeeeerrre we are, born to be Kings!....

mitosis

Gabriel Byrne's accent is the real scam.

ejmaztec

geeky wrote: »

I'd brave a transatlantic flight to watch that.

The main event is taking place in Swords.

geeky

ejmaztec wrote: »

The main event is taking place in Swords.

Or O'Connell Street

Honestly, I think we should make more of our capacity for primitively-armed brutality. People love that sh*t.

meoklmrk91

It's not a scam, it's a tourism campaign. One which will fail miserably but sure anyway, does anyone even know anyone who is coming home for this? Most everyone I know doesn't even know what the fecking gathering is.

Mansized Wreath

Irish people would sicken yer ****e with their negativity. Grow da fock up.

Wile E. Coyote

There's no pleasing some people. You all just love to moan and complain.

This country relies heavily on tourism and any idea/event that gets additional people to these shores and spending money is a good thing. More tourists = more jobs in the hospitality sector = less people on the dole = more money all round. It's not rocket science.

Fair enough it's not one of the best thought out ideas but it has potential. Instead of moaning and b*tching on line why don't you do something to organize events in your communities? Make it a proper event that people will remember so they don't consider it a scam!

Pippy1976

Oh my God, I really agree with this. They're Irish when it suits them - which most of the time is when they've got nothing positive to say about the country at all.

We're only trying to do our best... feck off Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson et al. You don't live here, you've no idea so get back to L.A. and spend your millions there - boring, negative, and downright insulting to be honest.

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Personally I'm sick of this pr*ck and others like him, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson......popping back over here once every two years, appear on the Late Late Show or whatever, and lecture us on what a ****-hole it is and what a **** job we are doing with a country that he chooses not to live in..........

There were plenty of people here in this country questioning the gathering but they never made it to the front page of the Indo.

But some pr*ck who makes good in Amerikay, sucking on the tit of the worlds most unequal democracy, where 43 million people are food stamps...... well they gotta be listened to.....

To be honest, i'd blame the media for giving him exposure......everyones entitled to their opinion.....but for some reason his is up there in lights all the time.

maximoose

geeky wrote: »

Or O'Connell Street


Honestly, I think we should make more of our capacity for primitively-armed brutality. People love that sh*t.

Round them all up, have a Battle Royale/Hunger games style event in Phoenix Park. Entertainment and cleaning the city at the same time.

Can call it The Bobby Sands Games.

billybudd

Tourism in general is a scam, Even the ex public sector workers cant help but giving out.

I actually think the gathering is the best tourism marketing idea from this country in a long time.

Pippy1976

Mansized Wreath wrote: »

Irish people would sicken yer ****e with their negativity. Grow da fock up.

Again, thumbs up. Y'know we're such a nation of begrudgers and moaners. Fair enough the government got us into the mess we're in and us, the lowly workers of the country, have to get us out of it - which we moan about pretty much 24/7 365 days a year.

Then, when Tourism Ireland launch a campaign to bring tourists into the country and spend and therefore boost the economy we're feckin' moaning about that too.

Jesus, we're never happy and it's SO tiring to listen to. As someone who lived abroad for years and has come home honest to God lads you've no idea how lovely it is here. Shut up moaning, giving out, get on with things and get over it.

It's tourism at the end of the day. If the campaign wasn't called The Gathering it'd be called something else - T.I. are only doing their job.

Míshásta

Wile E. Coyote wrote: »

There's no pleasing some people. You all just love to moan and complain.

This country relies heavily on tourism and any idea/event that gets additional people to these shores and spending money is a good thing. More tourists = more jobs in the hospitality sector = less people on the dole = more money all round. It's not rocket science.

Fair enough it's not one of the best thought out ideas but it has potential. Instead of moaning and b*tching on line why don't you do something to organize events in your communities? Make it a proper event that people will remember so they don't consider it a scam!

Nothing wrong with encouraging tourists. But please treat them with a bit of respect. Why sould anyone visit Ireland because of a think-tank PR exercise called the Gathering.

Just another "St. Arthur's day" type goofy promotion.

Should be called "THE BLATHERING"

My relatives abroad are always welcome to visit, why should 2013 be any different.

Hannibal Smith

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Personally I'm sick of this pr*ck and others like him, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson......popping back over here once every two years, appear on the Late Late Show or whatever, and lecture us on what a ****-hole it is and what a **** job we are doing with a country that he chooses not to live in..........

There were plenty of people here in this country questioning the gathering but they never made it to the front page of the Indo.

But some pr*ck who makes good in Amerikay, sucking on the tit of the worlds most unequal democracy, where 43 million people are food stamps...... well they gotta be listened to.....

To be honest, i'd blame the media for giving him exposure......everyones entitled to their opinion.....but for some reason his is up there in lights all the time.

Well said

billybudd

Míshásta wrote: »

Nothing wrong with encouraging tourists. But please treat them with a bit of respect. Why sould anyone visit Ireland because of a think-tank PR exercise called the Gathering.

Just another "St. Arthur's day" type goofy promotion.

Should be called "THE BLATHERING"

My relatives abroad are always welcome to visit, why should 2013 be any different.

Well you see we are in competition against the world regarding tourism and with a world wide reccession going on with a few exceptions then we need to up our game in terms of selling our country to people abroad, its like opening a shop and expecting customers rather than working hard to get customers, like it or not alot of people are huegly influenced by marketing.

Wile E. Coyote

Míshásta wrote: »

Nothing wrong with encouraging tourists. But please treat them with a bit of respect. Why sould anyone visit Ireland because of a think-tank PR exercise called the Gathering.

Just another "St. Arthur's day" type goofy promotion.

And how exactly would you entice people to come here and spend money without doing some PR and marketing? Campaigns like this work when organized correctly and Arthur's Day (as ridiculous as it is) is a perfect example of that.

Nikkio237

Ok, I'm sorry, but as an ex-pat, I can't believe how negative people are being about this. My dad's working in Canada, aunts and uncles in England, another in San Francisco. Cousins spread around the world as well, and myself in Wales. I get home maybe 2-3 times a year, and it's rare that I'm home the same time as all my family. Last time I saw dad was in July, and before that last Christmas. Bear in mind that my parents are still together, and my mother's barely able to see him more than me.

I think the Gathering is a fantastic idea. So what if it's a tourist trap? It's an excuse to bring everyone home and maybe catch up with people I haven't been able to see in years. Stop being so fecking negative and maybe think about inviting that best friend who's had no choice but to emigrate home for a bit.

The Oirish Yanks are going to come to Ireland anyway. They don't need the Gathering as an excuse. How about instead of whining about them, we turn this into something real and actually bring everyone home for a party?