The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) has announced that it plans to develop a book that will capture the stories and photographs that emerge from The Gathering Ireland in 2013.

In an exciting national initiative, anyone who has Irish blood, a link to Ireland, or a love of the country is being invited to visit Ireland for an exciting series of events next year.

People all over Ireland will be organizing their own gatherings from clan meetings, to sports events, to arts festivals, and much more.

The IHF is now planning to capture the diverse range of stories and photographs which will emerge from Gathering events all across Ireland.

Michael O’Reilly, Chairman of the IHF commented, “We plan to develop a book which will capture this year-long celebration of Ireland and our global community. We are currently in the planning process and we expect to come up with a book that will showcase the vitality and energy in communities countrywide during the biggest tourism event to ever take place in Ireland.”

Jim Miley, Project Director of The Gathering Ireland 2013 stated, “We are delighted with this initiative by the IHF. Next year will see Gathering events taking place at national, regional and community level, generating in turn a multiplicity of stories and images of our country and our global family. The IHF book will capture what I believe will be an extraordinary year in the life of Ireland”.

The book will be sixth to be produced by the IHF since 1986. The “Whoseday Book” was published as a millennium diary for the year 2000. “Art:pack” was produced in the year 2001, “Peter & the Wolf” followed in 2003, “LifeStory” in 2007, “Zest!” in 2009 and “The Thank You Book” in 2010. These projects raised about €4 million for the IHF.

The Irish Hospice Foundation is the national charity dedicated to all matters relating to dying, death and bereavement in Ireland. Our vision is that no one should have to face death or bereavement without the care and support they need.