Ireland announces a global Irish homecoming for 2013

If it works (I hope it will) and there is a huge boost for Irish tourism, I hope that people in the hospitality industry wont pull their usual stunt and try and gouge every last USD, CAD, NZD, AUD, EUR, SGD, HKD, etc.etc. out of the visitors. That was what garnered Ireland the reputation of being 'rip off Ireland' a few years back. Wouldn't it be welcome for visitors to 'The Gathering' to get value for money and come back again ? I have found that during my very regular visits to Ireland, the price of things change by the way I am dressed - if I look like I am from out of town, the locals will try and pull a fast one on me.

Glad I am my planing my next trip to Ireland in May 2012 and thus I will not be part of the 2013 "Gathering". Still think the Tourism Ireland needs to come up with some thing better then " The Gathering", which sounds like a gathering of vultures. Still like my Irish third cousin's Maggie's question to me as something for Tourism Ireland to use instead, "When are you coming back now".

Is that O'Varadkar or Mac Varadkar ..... possibly Mc Varadkar?

The Irish people in general are some of the nicest, most friendly and hospitable people you'll meet in your travels. Tourism was always a very important part of the economy and they do it well. What a brilliant idea!

I'm so there!

CaptainCon: You appear to be confusing two things. The "Diaspora" is comprised of people who have some consciousness of Irish ancestry. I would suspect that could be 20 millions worldwide, maybe less. These people are Americans, Canadians, Australians, Argentinians, English etc. There is no reason whatsoever they should have a vote in Irish elections, and I don't believe they've ever asked for it. The folks who are denied a vote in Irish elections are Irish citizens living abroad. They might number one million. They have a very strong case to be given the same democratic rights enjoyed by Americans, French, Ecuadorians, Poles etc.--the right to vote in their country's elections.

I agree wholeheartedly about the vote for the Diaspora. But we can't look upon this major tourism initiative as moneyspinning. It is to lift Ireland's image at home and abroad, to generate jobs for some of the 400,000 out of work, and to give us back our pride of place. I just can't believe the negativity of some people!

FANTASTIC! Carrick-on-Shannon in Lovely Leitrim is already planning a major celebration from March to October 2013 for its 400th Anniversary, as well as another of the highly successful 'Leitrim Roots' homecoming for this year. Let's all of us encourage just one person/family to make come to Ireland in 2013 and we will have served the cause well!

@gobdawpaddy: With all the subsidies, tax breaks, expense accounts, fraud, nepotism, cronyism and god knows what else it is more likely they gathered at your expense. Your just to stupid to work it out.

Loyal, what a load of cr**. These people have gathered at their own expense to offer their expertise in an effort to help Ireland out of its current difficulties. Your description of them as 'retards (very offensive term), degenerates and traitors' indicates a malcontent, chip on your shoulder streak.

The retards, degenerates and traitors of Ireland have gathered in Dublin to waste huge amounts of money on propaganda and self image........Some people have noticed that the Irish Media (propaganda units of the traitors) are ignoring the protest voice in Dame Street......Listening to just one side of the story is never going to be sincere.

Never mind your moneyspinning. Where is the vote for the diaspora?