The Gathering 2013

An Coilean

What do you think of it? I thought at first it sounded like a good idea, but it seems a lot of people think its just a scam to shake down the diaspora for a few quid.

Even people who have worked among the Diaspora have come out against it.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1105/breaking51.html

Interestingly (to me anyway) a comment on the Gathering's page on facebook slamming the campaigns complete lack of the Irish Language anywhere in it's promotion has attracted 750 likes in the past 6 hours with people labeling the whole thing as a shamefull embarrasment.


Anyway, I can't say I'm a fan of the whole thing, it probably won't bring many people here and the whole image of the thing is a bit of an embarrasment IMO.

4zn76tysfajdxp

An Coilean wrote: »

a comment on the Gathering's page on facebook slamming the campaigns complete lack of the Irish Language anywhere in it's promotion has attracted 750 likes in the past 6 hours with people labeling the whole thing as a shamefull embarrasment.

Anyway, I can't say I'm a fan of the whole thing, it probably won't bring many people here and the whole image of the thing is a bit of an embarrasment IMO.

Would you go far as to say a "shameful" embarrassment?

An Coilean

Emelia Tinkling Gymnasium wrote: »

Would you go far as to say a "shameful" embarrassment?

No, I would say its a bit thick to try and create a 'celebration of all things Irish' and forget about the Irish Language though.

donvito99

Cowboys,Ted. BLOODY COWBOYS

Praetorian Saighdiuir

I'm 50/50 on it tbh.

At the front it seems like a world wide con job, luring the diaspora back to their native land for a sense of Irishness that they may have long forgotten. It's the Government trying to boost our economy any way it can.

Then on the other side, if it briefly reunites families, boosts the economy, promotes Ireland, and as a side effect people may keep their job or gain one....then sure why not.

Big Bottom

What % of the public can speak Irish anyway is it not a bit makey up to over emphasis it when all the people coming back cant even understand it?!

Fr_Dougal

Reminds me of passing around the basket during mass.

phasers

I don't get it tbh, what is it meant to do?

I got something in the post about it the other day telling me to come to Ireland.

Eh, I live in Ireland...?

gozunda

An Coilean wrote: »

What do you think of it? I thought at first it sounded like a good idea, but it seems a lot of people think its just a scam to shake down the diaspora for a few quid.
Even people who have worked among the Diaspora have come out against it.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1105/breaking51.html
Interestingly (to me anyway) a comment on the Gathering's page on facebook slamming the campaigns complete lack of the Irish Language anywhere in it's promotion has attracted 750 likes in the past 6 hours with people labeling the whole thing as a shamefull embarrasment.
Anyway, I can't say I'm a fan of the whole thing, it probably won't bring many people here and the whole image of the thing is a bit of an embarrasment IMO.

Do as suggested in AH and take the Post cards originally issued to persuade the diaspora to return and hand over their cash and use them Instead to send to your local political representative to lodge a protest concerning the recent death in UCHG. I believe people are adding comments along the lines of who would want to come to this country considering how this women was treated.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Reminds me of passing around the basket during mass.

Did you take out double what you put in too?

I hope it doesn't mirror that analogy...otherwise The Gathering 2014 will happen because not enough people contributed the first time. :pac:

admiralofthefleet

when's it out in the cinema?

An Coilean

Big Bottom wrote: »

What % of the public can speak Irish anyway is it not a bit makey up to over emphasis it when all the people coming back cant even understand it?!

Probably about 5-7%, but there are a few other factors, when a lot of the diaspora left a much bigger % spoke Irish so many in the diaspora have Gaeilge as part of their herritage, It's supposed to be a celebration of 'all things Irish', and the language is definatly part of that, and Americans love Gaelic.

Mr Whirly

An Coilean wrote: »

Interestingly (to me anyway) a comment on the Gathering's page on facebook slamming the campaigns complete lack of the Irish Language anywhere in it's promotion has attracted 750 likes in the past 6 hours with people labeling the whole thing as a shamefull embarrasment.

What's the point? A tiny amount of people would understand it and it would cost them lots of money.

Why don't you translate it and set up a mirror image facebook page?

Praetorian Saighdiuir

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

when's it out in the cinema?

It reminds me of Highlander...

...I can see Enda with a broad sword lobbing heads off people and getting ready for the gathering!

wp_rathead

benwavner wrote: »

I'm 50/50 on it tbh.

Me too
50% of me thinks it's bull****
50% of me thinks it's horse****

Where To

I think it's a great idea.


I'll think of a reason why it's a great idea later.

mariano rivera

What are we doing next year?


The Spread Out!

ejmaztec

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

when's it out in the cinema?

Straight to DVD and a daily showing on the Syfy channel.

TheUsual

I think they should have called it "The Herding" ... but that's just bitter old me.


Also, can someone keep an eye on the Gabriel Byrne when it starts, just lock him in the lift and turn off the power or something. Maybe out of the way with a couple of dogs to keep an eye on him.

Xavi6

This has nothing to do with why I'm coming home at Christmas and I won't be attending any hippy fests organised under its banner.

Agree with Gabriel Byrne, scam.

TheUsual

Xavi6 wrote: »

Agree with Gabriel Byrne, scam.

^^^^^^^^^
Might have to add the "Xavi6" character to our undesirables list.
Don't want any troublemakers ruining the day (like Jedward).

I sent the following to my local politico about the gathering:


I would like to suggest that the 1916 celebrations be pushed back to 1918 for several reasons:

Democratic action, not random violence should be celebrated. The 1918 elections, not the easter
rising should be celebrated. In light of "The Gathering" where Ireland extends a welcome to
emigrants abroad it is insulting to celebrate people such as Padraig Pearse who claimed that
emigrants were "traitors" and "fools".

"The Gathering" rings hollow while emigrants are not given voting rights.

Fromthetrees

I'm glad they've managed to persuade Willie Frazer and a few bus loads of supporters down from the north to Dublin to have a large gathering outside the Dail to show off to the international world our great, fun loving and warm spirited people.

It'll be a fantastic day out for all, thank you Bord Failte. :cool:

ScumLord

I don't understand why people have turned against this idea. Of course it's a money spinning racket. Every thing is a money spinning racket these days. The Colosseum and the pantheon are money spinning rackets. You'll be lucky to get out of Rome with the shirt on your back it's so geared towards separating people from their money.

Tourist means "foreign person spending money". They're not guests and they know it. We all know it.

As gimmicks go it's a good enough one. I don't think it's any worse than any other idea places have to get people in the door. It's a simple and concise message that there's going to be a load of people in Ireland doing Irish things and if you come here at any stage this year there will be something for you to do.

ScumLord

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't understand why people have turned against this idea.

Do you not care that they tax you more to waste money?

Do you not care about corruption?

You know who is in charge on the gathering don`t you?

My name is URL

Deleted User wrote: »

Do you not care that they tax you more to waste money?

Do you not care about corruption?

You know who is in charge on the gathering don`t you?

The same people that are in charge of all other tourism drives?

It may be a huge money making scam, but so are many other things. If it pays off then there isn't very much to complain about really. People aren't going to be forced at knifepoint to visit the country.

ScumLord

Deleted User wrote: »

Do you not care that they tax you more to waste money?

Do you not care about corruption?

I have no idea what your on about there?

You know who is in charge on the gathering don`t you?

Tourism Ireland?

Lyaiera

wprathead wrote: »

Me too
50% of me thinks it's bull****
50% of me thinks it's horse****

It is indeed a strange aul beast.

Stab*City

They should just ask all the diaspora to donate to "The Cause" it sounds better than this sh@t!

Dodge

I can't see how its a scam.

Its, at worst, a poorly thought out plea/beg for ex-Pat Irish to spend money here.

Its not like people here invite their relations, who come home and think "hey, wait a minute, this isn't what I expected!"

There's nopthing wrong with the idea of trying to encouorage ex-pat Irish to come home for a holiday/vacation. But there's been nothing done to make the place anyway (more) attractive for them, so its really a bit pointless.

allanb49

Stealth Recce wrote: »

It reminds me of Highlander...

...I can see Enda with a broad sword lobbing heads off people and getting ready for the gathering!

Dammit, thought i'd be the first, when I first heard of it I thought this is how they advertise The Prize??

Anyway my sig says It all

ScumLord

Dodge wrote: »

But there's been nothing done to make the place anyway (more) attractive for them, so its really a bit pointless.

Ireland is what it is and that's what tourists want to see. For the most part the scenery of the Irish countryside will do the majority of the hard work for us. Dublin is a nice looking city as is Galway, both are well equipped for tourists anyway so will have no problem accommodating extra tourists.

Tourism is down, so the capacity is there and the Irish countryside is always ready to impress no matter what the weather. As long as the place is clean there's not much else we need to do.

Dodge

ScumLord wrote: »

Ireland is what it is and that's what tourists want to see. For the most part the scenery of the Irish countryside will do the majority of the hard work for us. Dublin is a nice looking city as is Galway, both are well equipped for tourists anyway so will have no problem accommodating extra tourists.

Tourism is down, so the capacity is there and the Irish countryside is always ready to impress no matter what the weather. As long as the place is clean there's not much else we need to do.

I like Ireland. I like living here, and I can see why its a top tourism destination for many. But, in this particular case, they're trying to lure people who have left the country back to spend money here. If it was as simple as "here's Ireland, spend your money", then they wouldn't feel the need to have events such as this.

I think the idea is fine, but I don't think its been expanded enough (if that makes sense)

ScumLord

Dodge wrote: »

I think the idea is fine, but I don't think its been expanded enough (if that makes sense)

I haven't really been following it to closely so I don't know what they've organised. But if enough people show up Dublin and Galway (I'm sure other places are as well equipped) have the ability to entertain them. The processes are already in place, we're a well oiled machine when it comes to giving tourists to Ireland what they expect. Which is drinking Guinness in a pub while listening to live Irish music for the most part. While that's no terribly exciting to us it's what the tourist want to see. The only spanner in the works would be if the natives don't show up because we are a major part of the attraction too.

Rented Mule

As someone who has to fly back to Ireland in August for a wedding, I am quite interested to see how much price gouging will be going on. I am completely preparing myself to be screwed over by every hotel, B&B and shoppe along the way.

strobe

What's with all this 'scam' gibberish? It's a tourism promotion dealy... Think up by Tourism Ireland, where is the 'scam' exactly? Everyone knows tourism is to generate money for the economy, no one has pretended the Gathering isn't a tourism promotion.

When Tesco advertise their products do you people scream 'such a scam! Sure they're only advertising that milk so we'll come and buy it. They only want our money the sneaky ****ers! Ohh, I see through their Mephistophelian plans! No fooling me!'

Madness...

MarkHitide

This is a grab I took from the official 'The Gathering' website.
It doesn't inspire.

ScumLord

MarkHitide wrote: »

This is a grab I took from the official 'The Gathering' website.
It doesn't inspire.

It looks like a violent form of stripping.

Pumpkinseeds

It really annoys me and I'm not entirely sure why. I feel embarrassed by it, it makes me cringe to be Irish. I don't believe that its aimed at Irish emigrants, I think its designed to encourage Americans who have never been to Ireland and who's great, great, great 10 times removed relative emigrated to the States to come over and play the Irish card.

Fricking hate it when anyone not born in Ireland claims to be Irish. Seems to be popular for many countries now though. How the hell can someone be a % Irish

gallag

Willy frazer seems to be the only one taking this seriously.

Aidric

ScumLord wrote: »

Dublin is a nice looking city

By what criteria?

Dravokivich

An Coilean wrote: »

No, I would say its a bit thick to try and create a 'celebration of all things Irish' and forget about the Irish Language though.

Eh what's the point on posting it in Irish if the expats its aimed at wouldn't have been able to read it?

shawnee

Rented Mule wrote: »

As someone who has to fly back to Ireland in August for a wedding, I am quite interested to see how much price gouging will be going on. I am completely preparing myself to be screwed over by every hotel, B&B and shoppe along the way.

Where are you coming from and what prices do they charge over there ? Personally I think hotel prices here are as competitive as anywhere in Europe.

My name is URL

My name is URL wrote: »

The same people that are in charge of all other tourism drives?

ScumLord wrote: »

Tourism Ireland?

Nope. .

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/11/25/the-ah-here-ing/

Jim Miley , project director of The Gathering is being paid € 168,000 a year in his role head of the tourism initiative. Miley, former chief executive of MyHome.ie and a former General Secretary of Fine Gael won a tender in May to run a “national tourism initiative and community development project.”

There were several applications for the role from senior marketing and tourism industry figures. Miley signed a contract on a salary of € 14,000 a month on May 18.

Millions have been allocated to this, why are we duplicating the role of tourism quangos?

ScumLord

Aidric wrote: »

By what criteria?

It's clean, easy to get around has some nice enough architecture, museums. It's got everything any tourist city in Europe has, more in some cases.

An Coilean

Dravokivich wrote: »

Eh what's the point on posting it in Irish if the expats its aimed at wouldn't have been able to read it?

You don't think there's any chance that there might be some small appeal in seeing Ireland's Native Language included in promotion material for people interested in visiting Ireland?
Something that distinguishes Ireland as distinct from our nearest neighbor, a language containing one of the oldest literary traditions in Europe, the first official language of the state today, you sure tourists couldn't possibly have any interest in that?

Lets not forget that many of the diaspora, especially in the states trace their Irish roots to emigrants who went to the US as Irish speakers. The language is very much a part of the story of the diaspora.

No one is saying promote it in Irish only, but ignoring Irish when the aim is to 'celebrate all things Irish' seems a bit self defeating to me.

Iwasfrozen

An Coilean wrote: »

You don't think there's any chance that there might be some small appeal in seeing Ireland's Native Language included in promotion material for people interested in visiting Ireland?
Something that distinguishes Ireland as distinct from our nearest neighbor, a language containing one of the oldest literary traditions in Europe, the first official language of the state today, you sure tourists couldn't possibly have any interest in that?

Nope, not the majority.

An Coilean wrote: »

Lets not forget that many of the diaspora, especially in the states trace their Irish roots to emigrants who went to the US as Irish speakers. The language is very much a part of the story of the diaspora.

The language their ancestors abandoned as fast as they could when they got to America.

An Coilean wrote: »

No one is saying promote it in Irish only, but ignoring Irish when the aim is to 'celebrate all things Irish' seems a bit self defeating to me.

No one is ignoring it, it just isn't being given emphasis.

Dravokivich

An Coilean wrote: »

You don't think there's any chance that there might be some small appeal in seeing Ireland's Native Language included in promotion material for people interested in visiting Ireland?
Something that distinguishes Ireland as distinct from our nearest neighbor, a language containing one of the oldest literary traditions in Europe, the first official language of the state today, you sure tourists couldn't possibly have any interest in that?

Lets not forget that many of the diaspora, especially in the states trace their Irish roots to emigrants who went to the US as Irish speakers. The language is very much a part of the story of the diaspora.

No one is saying promote it in Irish only, but ignoring Irish when the aim is to 'celebrate all things Irish' seems a bit self defeating to me.

Appeal. Yeah I can see why people would want it. It doesn't make sense to provide a marketing campaign to a reduced audience with it though. Especially when its for the dispora we seem to have a hard on for all of a sudden.

gallag

Can people just send a cheque back to this charity event or do they need to come in person?

Richard Hillman

Without a doubt its a money making exercise which is good but its being done so half arsed. There should be a show piece event. At the moment if somebody from abroad asked me what it is I couldnt tell them.

Happyman42

First event has been a disaster though, reason in pidgeon Irish.