Actor Gabriel Byrne called ‘unpatriotic’ by Irish government minister

It's a scam by the anglo oriented Dublin establishment.

Big up Gabe!

The gathering is a complete scam! All Paddys know that this country is far too expensive and that prices for everything will shoot up next year. Just back from 3 weeks in the states and everything seemed to cost half of what it costs at home.

I thought we were all children of the Earth......whats with the old patriarchal divide and rule nonsense- just because the old war mongers divided up our Mother Earth as spoils of war, does not mean we are all that unevolved in 2012.

Hoq right Gabriel is, its a joke

NIce one IrelandNorth. And whats the GAthering anyhow but "AN C R U I N N Í U!

Deputy Ring should call him in front of an Irish Senate committee, and accuse him of un-Irish activity. And for dramatic effect, get someone from the McCarthy clan to preside over it. There's a major disconnect between the rulers and the ruled in contemporary Ireland. The rarified athmosphere of Leinster House is causing them to loose touch with those who pay their inflated salaries. Exploting the authentic emotions of the Irish diaspora is ^unpatriotic", as well as idiotic. Forget the Gatherin' of the Scatterin'. Set up a Department of the Diaspora with a Minister from that constituency. And a not-for-profit organisation to promote geneaological tourism. That's real patriotism, Deputy Fainne!

Will the sell-off of the Irish Gas Board /Bórd Gais which holds the rights to Irish drinking water be a patriotic deed, Mr Govt Minister? British Gas are in the bidding for this!

I'm just wondering what Barack Obama would say if he read about Gabriel Byrne, pre-eminent Irishman and author of Irish language drama, being called "unpatriotic." How many times have Obama's political adversaries called him "not an American," "Kenyan anti-colonial," "racist" and even a hater of the USA? Would Obama tell Byrne, "Get your birth certificate ready for publication?" No, there's no defense against that kind of slur.

Our government are as patriotic as my dog and they havent even the right to say the word.

He should take that as a compliment from the likes of him. Rip off Ireland, The Gathering. It should be called the mugging.

Those Whiny Intellectual Rights Hollywood Celebrities, simply don`t strike me as the kind to take a Stand either side of Shankill Road, to begin with ! Like Bill Clinton they should leave their partisan Economics, and Politics, where it belongs, on their most recent Bed Partners, Casting Couch !

Just goes to show how right Gabriel is while now all of the government is being stingey and sourpusses because of how right Gabriel is!! Which just makes them look even more like a bunch of downright sour grapes!

Looks like Byrne wins this one.

I agree with Mr. Byrne and all of the previous comments. The Gathering is a PR event; no more, no less.