Gathering up €10m for local economy

The Gathering Ireland 2013 initiative could attract at least 20,000 international visitors to County Clare, injecting up €10 million into the local economy.

That’s according to The Gathering Clare Steering Group, which is co-ordinating dozens of event ideas in preparation for the year-long celebration aimed at encouraging visitors of all nationalities to visit Clare in 2013.
The Steering Group says it has already received a large number of Gathering event submissions to its calendar of events for 2013, which will be used as a promotional and marketing tool for County Clare.
The calendar will be profiled on the Gathering Ireland website, www.thegatheringireland.com, as well as distributed nationally and internationally.
Ideas already floated as possible Gathering Clare events include a Scattery Reunion, a revival of the Festival of Finn in Corofin and clan gatherings throughout the county. Meanwhile, the Clare Roots Society has confirmed it is organising a conference, entitled Gathering the Scattering, which will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel next April and will be preceded by a week-long programme of events.
Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board is also leading the way with Phoenix Week from March 14 to March 21, when the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Phoenix and Ennis will be celebrated. Over 100 visitors from Phoenix have already confirmed their visit to Ennis for the week.
“The reaction to date from members of the public, community groups and organisations throughout County Clare in relation to The Gathering has been impressive.
“The public recognises the real potential that The Gathering initiative offers for local communities and the economy,” outlined Steering Group chairperson, Ger Dollard. We are continuing to focus on a number of headline events next year and the steering group is working through all the suggestions that have been received to date.
“Our key task is to mobilise and drive The Gathering throughout Clare by engaging, planning and coordinating community-based activity.
“We would encourage people to find out more about how their families, businesses and communities can be part of this initiative and in doing so start making plans for their own Gatherings. We would also ask people to let us know if they are organising events or other initiatives and, most importantly, to register the details on www.thegatheringireland.com.
“A lot of work remains to be done to ensure that Clare can derive maximum benefit from this national initiative. On behalf of the steering group I would urge everybody to get involved and play their part in making The Gathering an outstanding success for our county,” Mr Dollard added.