Actor Gabriel Byrne slams The Gathering as ‘a scam‘ aimed at gullible Americans

Nicoletta: Your remark just shows your ignorance. When Americans say they are "Irish", they are saying they are Irish-Americans. Because--guess what--Americans KNOW they are Americans!!! Similarly, an American who tells you he is "Italian" is NOT (write this out 100 times) telling you he was born in Italy. He KNOWS he's an American, it's not a distinguishing feature, and it is redundant to say it. If Irish such as you used a few brain cells you'd realize that Americans are quite aware of their own nationality, no need for you to worry your empty little heads about it.

Any American visitor I meet here in Dublin is having a really good time. They love the homeliness, the friendliness, the sense of humour, just the sense of being in Ireland. For my part, I am looking forward to visiting my second most loved country, the United States, again next Spring. After my holiday there, I will settle back happily into Ireland for another year - just as our American visitors will be glad to settle back into their own homes. I love the Americans, of all persuasions, and I know they love us. Nice, warm, happy glows all around. Thank God. Éamonn, Dublin.

I am of two minds about the Gathering. It certainly is a marketing scheme, but is that automatically bad? I suspect that it will have no appeal to someone like me, of Irish parentage or with known family still in Ireland. But I realize that it has appeal - legitimate appeal - to those of more remote Irish ancestry. And if some who attend the gathering are "gullible," what's the harm?

For what it's worth. I emigrated to Canada from Dublin in 1974. I was happy to get out of a Dublin which was still living 50 years in the past at that time. I have been back to Ireland exactly once, in 1976. Part of why I have not gone back is that my 1976visit did not give me any "warm fuzzy" feelings at all. Communication with friends and relatives still in Ireland has not changed that impression. You might argue that I must not be a very nice person and that is why I get negative feedback from folks "back home". Perhaps this is so... but I have no problem getting along with folks here in Vancouver. I have been giving a lot of thought recently to another visit to see if I have any connection at all left with dirty Dublin. I had been planning to do this next year - 2013 then I heard about this "Gathering" business. I know that the Dubliners of my youth - including myself, would be highly cynical about such a "marketing and money spinning" operation. I can see the "boys" (I would have been one of them) calculating how they will take advantage of this influx of marks. I for one will be avoiding this "Gathering".

Gabriel is a nasty man who only pretends to be happy that he's Irish when it suits him. Try speaking Irish to him and see his reaction. That was real fun when I met him.

Something more substantive for we of Irish birth and the diaspora would be the franchise.

Gabriel is quite right. This is a money making racket just like that silly Irish certificate. Irish people in certain parts of the country (Dublin especially but not exclisively) are forever putting down those of us of Irish descent by using the term plastic. I have experienced it many times. The fact that only lip service is paid to those born abroad is all the proof you need.

gobdawpaddy, Ireland gets just under 7 million tourists a year, most from the UK. The Gathering will bring they say an extra 300,000. Ireland is a great country and the people are so friendly. Ireland is a highly educated country. Canada and Australia are recruiting thousands from Ireland. You say (Irish hospitality industry needs to start providing value for money)prices in Ireland has come down alot in the last 3 years. Hotels prices are one of the lowest in Europe.

What rubbish from Gabriel Byrne. He should come to Ireland and see how well U.S. tourists are received as in my own town of Kinsale where they can see and enjoy the heritage and the history and make connections with their past. I spend over an hour every day with the thousands of visitors who visit Kinsale every year, showing them the town and I have never hear any of them say they were disappointed or "shaken down" Shame on you Gabriel Byrne for being so negative, What did you actually do as our Cultural Ambassador ? I challenge you to take our Kinsale Heritage Town Walk, and we wont even charge you the almost nominal cost of five euro to show you what Ireland is really all about!

Having encountered the man on a number of occasions I can't abide the man, but Gabriel Byrne is correct this time. As I observed in a previous discussion on this topic, I think 'The Gathering' was a great idea. Upon reflection however, being a regular visitor to Ireland, I realized that people in the hospitality industry there, hotels, car rental companies, restaurants etc. etc. would use it as 'a shake down' of the Irish diaspora. Taoiseach Enda Kenny alluded to this prospect only a week ago. I wish Enda, Gabriel and myself were wrong, even if Enda is adopting a different attitude today in light of Mr Byrne's contribution. Much lip service is paid to 'the diaspora' (and they want to help) but as an Irish born managing director at Goldman observed about a week ago, 'the Irish refuse to learn'. Many Irish people have emigrated to the United States, Australia, the UK etc. and have developed skill sets, garnering tremendous experience. They could be of great assistance to Ireland in its recovery but the Irish won't listen and advice is often resented (oh here comes the yank, or the Brit or the Aussy who thinks he/she knows it all). The Irish hospitality industry needs to start providing value for money in an effort to develop 'return business' and not attempt to make the decade's revenue during an a single event like 'The Gathering'.

When Americans describe themselves as being "100% Irish," it's shorthand for saying I have Irish paternal and maternal ancestors. They know they're Americans. In the U.S., if someone says, "I'm Irish," we understand the person is an AMERICAN describing ancestry. But when someone says that in Ireland, it's often misunderstood as a claim to Irish citizenship by birth/culture. It's not. BTW: I rather doubt the Irish, who aren't directly involved in tourism, genuinely care one twit about Americans coming in 2013 and that's one reason why my husband and I won't be coming. I sincerely wish a good time to those who choose to go.

Frosty38; Burbberry has a massive export trade to the USA AND Japan. I say this as another thick diaspora Paddy who spent his early childhood in Killarney. For people trying to find their roots, Ireland is great. Small community Registry offices with helpful staff. County Kerry is a very beautiful, and its golf and fishing facilities are fantastic. DON'T PEE on peoples'dreams.

Frosty38, go to The General Register Office maintains a genealogical/family history research facility at 3rd Floor, Block 7, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1. The Research facility is open Monday to Friday, (excluding public holidays) from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. for the purpose of searching indexes to birth, death and marriage records and for obtaining photocopies of records identified from the indexes.

To whom are you talking, Frosty? This reads like a strange rant into the void.

Well said Gabriel and how true.Only the right to VOTE will show any respect for the diaspora.No VOTE no Money.