Actor Gabriel Byrne has again slammed The Gathering, the year-long event based on an Irish homecoming for the Irish abroad.
During an interview in New York last month, Byrne told Today FM's "The Last Word" that most Irish “don’t give a sh*t about the Diaspora except to shake them down for a few quid.” He also called it a "scam".
Speaking in Dublin last night, Byrne re-iterated his criticsm and said there was a real need for a proper relationship with the Diaspora
“I think the bulk of what I was saying about nurturing and developing a real relationship with a very complex group of emigrants is absolutely essential.
Read more about The Gathering here
"As one guy said to me: ‘stop calling us tourists. We’re exiles, we’re emigrants’. Who am I to keep people from coming to the country? I was merely reflecting the opinions of people I have met in America.”
Byrne also attacked the Gathering for launching at the Guinness Storehouse, and criticised Arthur’s Day which commemorates Arthur Guinness with nationwide celebrations.
“Arthur’s Day, what was the point of that nonsense? That was a cynical piece of exercise in a country which has a huge drinking problem,” he said.
Damon Blake of The Gathering, Dublin, disagreed with Byrne’s comments,”It’s a tourism initiative to have those who are or love the Irish return here in 2013, an initiative that is not being dictated by a governing body, merely enabled and supported by it. Like any group exercise, the outcome and results of it will be determined by the desire and input of the people involved.“
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.DowneyPerfectio | Dec 06, 2012, 03:24 PM EST
Oh bloody fecking hell! Give Byrne slack!! :/....He doesn't deserve to be disrespected! All Gabriel has ever done is serve Ireland like a 'loyal' Irishman he is! Gabriel has always been for the people over the government! He likes 'connecting' with people...Gabriel's words are bloody brilliant....so true!!
Smyrnian | Dec 05, 2012, 11:54 PM EST
"Gathering", "Diaspora" etc. big con job. Where was the Irish government when we desperately needed jobs at home? Now they need us. Yeah, right I'm heading to the Caribbean instead. This is a gathering of $€£¥. Gabriel Byrne has it right!
misneac | Dec 05, 2012, 07:32 PM EST
Byrne is talking the usual bullshit we get from the likes of Sinead OConnor ,Bono ,Geldof and all the usual self-promoting egoists ! When he ceased to receive money as an "ambassador " for The Gathering he starts bitching .Ireland like any country in the world is absolutely correct to create a tourist marketing initiative and many prople only need a little reminder to arrange areturn visit for a holiday .Some of your contributors seem to think that they were the chosen ones and all the world owes them ! Irish people for generations have left home ,travelled the world and remained proud to be Irish .What is wrong with you lot ,and your bitter negatitivy ? Sinead OConnor
anglo-norman | Dec 05, 2012, 04:14 PM EST
The Grovelling is a digraceful cynical ploy to get money from people that were forced to leave their homeland & families due to corruption & stupidity of Irish Society.
cillowen | Dec 05, 2012, 02:00 PM EST
now I get what byrne's attack is about - Pushing Guinness' poison on an already programmed people this coupled with diaspora caring while natives care for blowins more than self. This and the craving for awards from occupier - such that many donna know who they should side with.
Smyrnian | Dec 05, 2012, 01:21 PM EST
Olovely - well said. Funny, I never felt part of anything before and now I am part of. "Diaspora" and invited to a "Gathering" no less." They were quick to push us out the door back in the day and now they remember us? Sure. It feels like being invited to a family reunion when the family hasn't bothered with you in decades! Not a good feeling. It's a gathering of $€£¥
Searlit | Dec 05, 2012, 12:36 PM EST
Hmmm, we need an edit link, sometimes the comments don't appear the way they're intended. *An Baililúchán
olovely | Dec 05, 2012, 12:23 PM EST
I agree with Byrne, Ireland needs a real relationship with the Diaspora. They can't just ask us to fork out and then show us the door like they did in the past. We're in a new globally connected world now, it's about time they recognized it.
Searlit | Dec 05, 2012, 12:10 PM EST
Maybe it would be more popular if they called it An Bbaili
JayFay | Dec 05, 2012, 10:41 AM EST
I agree with Gabriel, Ireland is one of the few countries in the world that does not allow its expats to vote. As soon as you're out of Ireland you lose that right. The UK allows its ex-pats 10 years of voting rights from when they leave, France even has an MP specially for expats! I'm Irish living abroad and I'm friends with many expats from different countries. I'm the only one I know of who has to suffer my 'countrymen' telling me that I'm not entitles to an opinion on Ireland anymore because I left. Any comment I make on Ireland is met with derision. None of my Italian/French/German etc friends suffer this when they visit their home countries.
crny925 | Dec 05, 2012, 09:38 AM EST
Seamus60; have you ever been to the USA; you bollox? You really put a stigma on the Irish.
LacarourSeanB | Dec 05, 2012, 09:31 AM EST
While clearly but anecdotal evidence based upon limited personal experience, I still wonder as to your posit, Seamus60. Each time that this Yank product of the diaspora visits a home in either West Cork or Dublin, certainly it's the cup of tea that's offered but that comes only after the offer of "A drop". A drop that might legitimately fill anywhere from 3 to 5 shot glasses at any American bar.
mcdolan | Dec 05, 2012, 09:26 AM EST
Oh, Gabriel, it's a bit of fun to toast Arthur. Where's your sense of humour? We surely need it here in this gloomy economy.
biggles008 | Dec 05, 2012, 09:02 AM EST
I agree with Gabriel Byrne.
2011Hope | Dec 05, 2012, 08:35 AM EST
If the Irish Government dedicated more time to legalizing 30,000 undocumented Irish emigrants in the U.S., they would have an gathering every yearthat would certainly help with recovery of a shattered ecomony.
seamus60 | Dec 05, 2012, 07:38 AM EST
The Irish booze issues ? Enter a home in Ireland and get offered a cup of tea. Enter a home in the USA and get offered a beer.
bayirisham | Dec 04, 2012, 10:38 PM EST
I agree with Byrne a man who thinks for himself. He knows Ireland from both sides , the Irish American and as a native. Its also great to hear someone who is not afraid to talk about the Irish booze issues.
Frosty38 | Dec 04, 2012, 07:36 PM EST
I disagree with woundedKnee I'm Boston Irish from a 6 generation Irish family and i will call Ireland my ancestral home. Direct descent from an ancestor; lineage or pedigree. 3. The study or investigation of ancestry and family histories.I'm there for 10 in 2013 and have all 8 of my family names. I think it great they are doing this even if it for a boost in the county. At lest the market good
WoundedKnee | Dec 04, 2012, 04:19 PM EST
I concur with Byrne--well spoken, especially his attack on the offensive "Arthurs Day". It was striking that Arthurs Day this year coincided with a day of national protests in Greece and Spain. The young people of these countries were on the streets, striving for a better future. A lot of the young people of Ireland were also on the streets that day, but they were vomiting their booze up after "celebrating" "Arthurs Day"... . A Sheáin Mhóir, aontaím leat sa mhéid a dúirt tú. Agus nach bhfuil sé suimiúl nach bhfuil leagan Gaeilge fós acub ar an bhfocal “Gathering”?
gobdawpaddy | Dec 04, 2012, 12:55 PM EST
I have no time for Gabriel Byrne, but I think he is correct with his reference to 'The Gathering' as a shakedown. Michael O'Leary is another person that I don't have much regard for but yesterday he echoed Byrne's assessment and refered to it as 'The Grabbing'. Enda Kenny alluded to the reputation of the Irish hospitality business for ripping people off when he warned them not to attempt it during 'The Gathering'. I hope that 'The Gathering' is a huge success, but from experience 'I know how they are there'.
Seanmor | Dec 04, 2012, 10:45 AM EST
Some od un among the diaspora don't waste our time or squander our dollars on Guinness or other intoxicants when we visit the homeland. To me Ireland means that whole nation and all its parts (never the former Free State territory) it history, traditions and culture, agus go speisialta teanga na NnGeal. Such being the case, I know very well that there is no place for me in the Gatherings of 2013.