Galway is calling its tribes back home – if your name is Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D’Arcy, Deane, Ffont, Ffrenche, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris or Skerritts you’re invited to the party.
The City of the Tribes has started planning for a massive medieval bash in 2013 when families worldwide with one of the 14 Tribe surnames will be afforded a hundred thousand welcomes.
The big bash is part of the ‘Gathering’ initiative for 2013 announced by Ireland’s Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar at the recent economic forum in Dublin Castle.
The week long Galway festival will celebrate the Irish ancestry of all those with one of the 14 Tribe surnames.
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The city’s landmark Eyre Square will act as the centrepiece of the celebrations when it is to be transformed into a medieval village.
Plaques dedicated to each of the 14 Tribes will be unveiled across the west of Ireland’s biggest city.
Galway city councillor Niall McNelis is enthused by the project. He said: “It’s a great way to celebrate the Norman part of our history and it won’t cost a fortune to do it, which is the best part.”
Organizers plan to use social media to promote the event.
“We will utilize every means possible to contact the massive numbers around the world who can trace their ancestry back to the tribes of Galway,” added McNelis.
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Dmorgan | Feb 22, 2012, 10:57 AM EST
If they are calling my family back, will they pay the airfare? Generally a good idea and I agree a way to squeeze some tourist cash. But, hey why not?
gobdawpaddy | Oct 29, 2011, 06:33 AM EDT
An Irish friend told me a story a few years ago about a trip he went on to support the Munster rugby team. They were playing in a small town in the south of France whose name escapes me. Munster rugby supporters are notorious around europe for their loyalty to their team and their good natured fun. They like to drink, sing songs and simply enjoy themselves. The (I guess the equivalent of the chamber of comerce) locals got together and in the knowledge of the Munster reputation, decided to lower the price of drink and food for the event. They were looking at the long term possibilities, not instant gratification. My friend will definitely return for the next game there. Could you imagine this happening in Ireland??
gobdawpaddy | Oct 29, 2011, 06:26 AM EDT
A very good idea, just like the Irish government's 'The Gathering', but unfortunately this will be used (like Galway races) by local publicans, hoteliers, B&B owners etc. to gouge visitors for their last USD, Pound, EUR, Shekel etc. This scenario is not confined to Galway. It happens at Listowel races, the Rose of Tralee, Cork jazz festival international rugby and soccer games, concerts etc. etc. People in the Irish hospitality sector need to look beyond their greasy paws and give visitors value for money, looking for repeat business.