Actor Gabriel Byrne called ‘unpatriotic’ by Irish government minister

Just like America,penalized for telling the truth!I went to Ireland in 2012 rather than getting ripped off in 2013.Again I repeat (Three times and no one has denied it)that Airlines ,B&B'scar rentals and hotels are going to raise rates for the "Gathering"-Any takers as to No!

An Irish gombeen politician whose salary and pension constitutes legal thievery is in no position to start bandying the word "patriotic" about. He might be better pointing out all of his fellow traitors whose idea of being patriotic translates as loyalty to Rome. Don't travel if you're pregnant. The Gathering is a scam meant to play on the illusions of some Americans who imagine they're actually Irish.

Government ministers want to screw more from people to pay for their big pensions.

I agree with all the people who have written above me

All of a sudden government ministers of the "Irish state" are concerned about "patriotism"? I thought "patriotism" was a dirty word among free state politicians.

Well, isn't that Irish! Being called unpatriotic for calling it how you see it. Perhaps the good Mr. Ring could be a bit more honest -- with himself in particular -- about how "The Gathering" is marketing hype. Gabrielle Byrne is calling it how he sees it. I see it that way too.

Not so long ago people in Ireland would have been ridiculed, their sanity possibly called into question had they dared expose what was going on in the catholic church in relation to child abuse. The three brass monkeys 'see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil, was the mantra then and given Mr Ring's admonition of Mr Byrne's assessment of 'The Gathering' suggests remnants of that mantra still exist in certain Irish circles, 'dont say nuttin'. Mr Ring's taoiseach Enda Kenny raised similar concerns regarding 'The Gathering' only a week before Gabriel Byrne's offering. I agree with both of them but I hope that all three of us are wrong and 'The Gathering' is a huges success, great craic and brings distant relatives, old friends etc. together.

Is this the same Minister who is warning Irish hospitality outlets not to 'rip off' the Yanks? Gabriel is right and he should have added " don't bother to come to Ireland - especially if you are pregnant!"

Gabriel Byrne is merely telling the truth but is expected to obey the elite as we were all expected to do in the past. Gabriel is an inspiration to the world- telling it as it is. The minister likes to play the old game of lets pretend we care about Ireland and America- no they dont.

So Byrne sees this initiative as a shake down and he is supposed to keep his mouth shut like a good patriotic Irishman?