A series of town hall-style community meetings will be held around Ireland to encourage people to get involved in The Gathering 2013, the year-long festival of festivals taking place next year, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring has announced.

Minister Ring explained that local Gathering organisations are being set up in every county, comprising sporting bodies, cultural and musical organisations, local authorities, and local development companies. A series of Town Hall-style community meetings will also be held around Ireland over the summer and in the year ahead.

“I was pleased to have this opportunity to speak to representatives of the County and City Councils and outline the national plans already in place for Ireland’s biggest ever tourism initiative, The Gathering Ireland 2013.  I have asked local representatives to make The Gathering Ireland 2013 a key part of their own regular meetings and to review progress on initiatives, plans and arrangements.”

“I also asked the representatives to engage within their own local communities and with citizens to design, create and implement a range of innovative ideas to make The Gathering 2013 a success in their own areas. No event is too small and I am calling on sporting organisations, clubs, teams, representative groups and communities to get involved and to make The Gathering Ireland 2013 a resounding success.”

“The Gathering 2013 is a people’s project. In order to spread the message and get everyone involved, we are calling on local networks, like this local organisation, to come on board. It’s extremely important that this initiative is not confined to big cities, but will be a truly countrywide event which shows off Ireland at its best. Everyone can help by doing something as simple as sending an e-mail or postcard to a relative or friend abroad inviting them to Ireland in 2013.”

Minister Ring made the announcement at the plenary meeting of the Association of County and City Councils in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Attended by representatives from County and City Councils across the country, the meeting was chaired by its President, Michael O’Brien.

Source: Transport.ie