Being half Irish (the Dempseys from Belfast on my father's side) I'm very interested in the events surrounding "The Gathering" this year in Ireland.
In an open invitation to celebrate all things Irish, the clever people at Tourism Ireland are inviting the world to come to the Emerald Isle in 2013 to celebrate their roots. Less we forget, more than 70 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry, including nearly five million Canadians.
More than 2,500 festivals and events are planned to attract the Irish home, including the "Canada Come Home Gathering," which charts the experience of over 6,000 people who left Coolattin Co. Wicklow for a new life in Canada during the Great Famine,.
Some other interesting events planned: The "Dingle Walking Festival" and the “you-must-see-this-to-believe-it” Bog Snorkelling Championships, where swimmers navigate 120 metres through an Irish bog.
Among other "Gathering" highlights include; the St Patrick’s Festival, the “People’s Parade” inviting 8,000 international visitors to walk in the capital’s big event and the Irish Redhead Convention which will see the largest gathering of carrot tops converge for a festival of ginger fun.
Travellers can take in the great outdoors during the Glen of Aherlow and Dingle Walking Festivals and the competitive Irish spirit will be fired up by the Celtic Cup 2013 International Lacrosse tournament; the Welly Throwing Championships and the World Mini Games amongst others.
For music fans, Sets by The Sea and The Sea Sessions offer a diverse musical line-up to be enjoyed against the backdrop of Ireland’s stunning coastline; Vantastival is the only campervan-focused music festival in Ireland; and the Beatles Festival on the Lough is a must for lovers of Liverpool’s fab four (whose roots, of course, are Irish!)
Family Gatherings include the Acton Clan Gathering, where Canadian Lyle Acton, whose great great grandfather left Ireland in 1840 to settle in Ontario, invites his distant relatives to meet in Co. Mayo; plus Gatherings of the Powers, Gallaghers, MacKenna, O’Reilly, O’Sullivan and Stack clans.
Elsewhere, the International Quilt Festival will transform Galway (my favourite place in Ireland) into an Irish Quilter’s Village created especially for the event; and the notorious Bog Snorkelling Championships.
For information about these and a full list of Gatherings taking place in 2013 visit www.thegatheringireland.com.
On information about visiting Ireland is available on www.ireland.com
