Michael Ring, Ireland's Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, has said that Gabriel Byrne's negative comments about 'The Gathering' were "unpatriotic."
"I didn't like his comments. I felt it was unpatriotic. I felt that he could have put the green jersey on this one," said Ring, who was speaking at the launch of a website promoting walking holidays in Co Sligo.
Byrne had dismissed The Gathering 2013 initiative as "a scam." According to the Irish Independent, the actor, who had previously served as Ireland's cultural ambassador in the US, said that many Irish who had emigrated to the US felt abandoned by Ireland.
While Ring concedes that he agrees with some of the issues raised by Byrne, it was now time to "move on."
"Gabriel Byrne has been a good ambassador for Ireland. He's a well-known personality and he made his comments.
"But in all fairness to him, I don't think anybody in the country can say now they don't know what The Gathering is," he said.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.curtisjohnson | Nov 20, 2012, 10:43 PM EST
It's a scam by the anglo oriented Dublin establishment.
casper1377 | Nov 19, 2012, 04:39 PM EST
Big up Gabe!
ciaradexy | Nov 19, 2012, 12:03 PM EST
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.
Portia777 | Nov 19, 2012, 10:27 AM EST
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.
billie061 | Nov 19, 2012, 08:40 AM EST
Hoq right Gabriel is, its a joke
esatdigiwank | Nov 19, 2012, 07:39 AM EST
NIce one IrelandNorth. And whats the GAthering anyhow but "AN C R U I N N Í U!
IrelandNorth | Nov 19, 2012, 05:46 AM EST
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!
esatdigiwank | Nov 19, 2012, 03:29 AM EST
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!
eiriamach | Nov 18, 2012, 05:42 PM EST
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.
Thomas84 | Nov 18, 2012, 05:37 PM EST
Our government are as patriotic as my dog and they havent even the right to say the word.
MichaelJTully | Nov 18, 2012, 05:36 PM EST
He should take that as a compliment from the likes of him. Rip off Ireland, The Gathering. It should be called the mugging.
aloistmartin | Nov 18, 2012, 05:20 PM EST
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 !
DowneyPerfectio | Nov 18, 2012, 04:07 PM EST
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!
greensod | Nov 18, 2012, 02:34 PM EST
Looks like Byrne wins this one.
eileenkny | Nov 18, 2012, 01:23 PM EST
I agree with Mr. Byrne and all of the previous comments. The Gathering is a PR event; no more, no less.
Murph46 | Nov 18, 2012, 01:03 PM EST
Just like America,penalized for telling the truth!I went to Ireland in 2012 rather than getting ripped off in 2013.Again I repeat (Three times and no one has denied it)that Airlines ,B&B'scar rentals and hotels are going to raise rates for the "Gathering"-Any takers as to No!
Will Hamilton | Nov 18, 2012, 12:46 PM EST
An Irish gombeen politician whose salary and pension constitutes legal thievery is in no position to start bandying the word "patriotic" about. He might be better pointing out all of his fellow traitors whose idea of being patriotic translates as loyalty to Rome. Don't travel if you're pregnant. The Gathering is a scam meant to play on the illusions of some Americans who imagine they're actually Irish.
biggles008 | Nov 18, 2012, 12:28 PM EST
Government ministers want to screw more from people to pay for their big pensions.
irishfree1916 | Nov 18, 2012, 11:59 AM EST
I agree with all the people who have written above me
Rebelforce | Nov 18, 2012, 11:39 AM EST
All of a sudden government ministers of the "Irish state" are concerned about "patriotism"? I thought "patriotism" was a dirty word among free state politicians.
LiamScanlan | Nov 18, 2012, 11:04 AM EST
Well, isn't that Irish! Being called unpatriotic for calling it how you see it. Perhaps the good Mr. Ring could be a bit more honest -- with himself in particular -- about how "The Gathering" is marketing hype. Gabrielle Byrne is calling it how he sees it. I see it that way too.
gobdawpaddy | Nov 18, 2012, 10:48 AM EST
Not so long ago people in Ireland would have been ridiculed, their sanity possibly called into question had they dared expose what was going on in the catholic church in relation to child abuse. The three brass monkeys 'see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil, was the mantra then and given Mr Ring's admonition of Mr Byrne's assessment of 'The Gathering' suggests remnants of that mantra still exist in certain Irish circles, 'dont say nuttin'. Mr Ring's taoiseach Enda Kenny raised similar concerns regarding 'The Gathering' only a week before Gabriel Byrne's offering. I agree with both of them but I hope that all three of us are wrong and 'The Gathering' is a huges success, great craic and brings distant relatives, old friends etc. together.
Towngate | Nov 18, 2012, 10:46 AM EST
Is this the same Minister who is warning Irish hospitality outlets not to 'rip off' the Yanks? Gabriel is right and he should have added " don't bother to come to Ireland - especially if you are pregnant!"
Portia777 | Nov 18, 2012, 09:36 AM EST
Gabriel Byrne is merely telling the truth but is expected to obey the elite as we were all expected to do in the past. Gabriel is an inspiration to the world- telling it as it is. The minister likes to play the old game of lets pretend we care about Ireland and America- no they dont.
gobdawpaddy | Nov 18, 2012, 08:06 AM EST
So Byrne sees this initiative as a shake down and he is supposed to keep his mouth shut like a good patriotic Irishman?