New public meeting date for the Gathering Limerick 2013

Oct. 5, 2012 - PRLog -- More than 200 members of the public attended a public meeting in Adare last month to share their ideas and views on possible events for The Gathering 2013.

The Gathering will be one of the biggest tourism initiatives ever staged in Ireland and is expected to bring 325,000 extra visitors to the country next year. Community projects already underway throughout Ireland include clan gatherings, genealogical projects, and an outreach initiative where local communities will contact people who have left the country.

Chair of the Limerick Gathering Steering Committee, Donal Fitzgibbon, said the public meeting on October 23rd in The Strand Hotel at 7pm will offer an opportunity for those who couldn’t attend the Adare event to learn more about The Gathering and how they can become involved.

“We really were delighted with the outcomes from the public meeting in the Woodlands Hotel last month and the genuine passion and enthusiasm that was evident on the night,” he said. “We realised that a further Gathering meeting was necessary to give those who couldn’t attend another chance to share their views and ideas. Many communities have already gone ahead and started planning their events and making contact with overseas friends, relations, neighbours and anybody interested in coming to Limerick in 2013.

“By calling this further meeting, we are asking everyone in Limerick who would like to get involved in the Gathering in 2013 to do so. This is an exciting opportunity for each and every one of us to play our part in showing what is best about Limerick and its people. We have some great networks here in Limerick and already some truly wonderful ideas as to how we can reach out to our friends and loved ones overseas and invite them home next year. 2013 is going to be an incredible year in Ireland and we want everyone across Limerick to be part of it,” Mr. Fitzgibbon added.

Amongst the Limerick events already proposed include an international ‘limericks’ festival, a world clay pigeon shoot, a Limerick Choral Festival, a walking tour of Limerick to incorporate culture, food, history and music, a Fleadh Gathering in Castletroy, a Fitzgerald clan gathering in Adare and an international harp festival in Castleconnell as well as a number of parish reunions.

Local Gathering organisations are being set up in every county, comprising sporting bodies, cultural and musical organisations, local authorities, and local development companies and representative bodies.

The Gathering is gaining momentum with a number of well-known Irish personalities pledging their support, including Munster and Irish rugby star Paul O’Connell, and actors Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson.

A Calendar of Limerick Events for The Gathering 2013 will be published towards the end of this year and will be used as a promotional and marketing tool both nationally and internationally.

Anyone organising a festival or event during 2013 or planning a specific event for The Gathering 2013 is asked to submit event details to: Lisa Ruttle, Community and Enterprise, Limerick County Council, Dooradoyle or by email:  lruttle@limerickcoco.ie.

For further information visit www.thegatheringireland.com, or follow The Gathering Limerick on Twitter @thegatheringlk or Facebook on www.facebook.com/TheGatheringLimerick.