Over 500 people attended four Gathering Community meetings held in Cork this month to generate ideas and plans to bring Gatherings to Cork in 2013. The Gathering Ireland 2013, an initiative launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D, is set to be the biggest tourism initiative ever in Ireland, bringing 325,000 additional overseas tourists to Ireland in 2013.
Meetings took place in The Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery, The Midleton Park Hotel, Midleton, Springfort Hall, Mallow, with the final meeting taking place in Cork City Hall last night. The Cork Community meetings were organised by the Cork Gathering Coordinators Anne O’Donnell and Michael Mulcahy. A large number of Gatherings for Cork city and county in 2013 were proposed and a website www.thegatheringireland.com
Speaking at the meetings, Gathering Coordinator Anne O’Donnell said:
“*There was a terrific sense of enthusiasm at all of the Cork meetings and the ideas that were generated could definitely bring people to Cork city and county. What we need now is for people to get behind these terrific ideas and put the plans in place to make Cork a hub of activity for 2013.”*
Some of the Gathering ideas generated so far include The Gathering Adventure Marathon, The International Red Head’s Convention, Michael Collins Birthday Celebrations, an Irish Dance School reunion and a gathering of ‘Blarney’ pubs from all over the world in Blarney.
Gathering Coordinator Michael Mulcahy also commented:
“*The Gathering Ireland 2013 has the potential to bring a genuine boost to the region. If we all make an effort to put the ideas into place and commit to the plans there will be a great boost to Cork in 2013.*”
