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Dublin: 6 °C Thursday 23 May, 2013

€5 million funding planned for local The Gathering events – and more to come

Fine Gael Mayo Deputy Michelle Mulherin said the funding is great news which will help people in planning community activities during the event.

Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

MILLIONS OF EURO in funding has been planned for the Gathering 2013 – and there is even more to come.

That’s according to Fine Gael Mayo Deputy Michelle Mulherin, who said that additional funding to the €5 million already planned is to be made available for supporting local and community events, which is great news as it will help people in planning activities.

The Gathering 2013 is the biggest tourism initiative ever undertaken in the State .

Deputy Mulherin noted:

In response to a Parliamentary Question I submitted to the Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar TD, regarding whether additional funding for The Gathering events is to be made available in the future, I have been assured that a small amount of additional funding will be on offer in the future so that local and county groups can be facilitated in their efforts.

She added that she has been contacted by many individuals and groups interested in putting on events and looking for some financial assistance.

“Further enquiries have been made to Fáilte Ireland to see if additional funds can be brought on stream from alternative sources and I have been told that details of this are being worked out at present and will be announced shortly,” said Deputy Mulherin.

The target for the Gathering is to attract 300,000 additional visitors to Ireland in 2013 and is a further sign of the Government’s commitment to the tourism industry, said the Deputy.

To-date, a budget of €5 million has been allocated to The Gathering 2013 in direct funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and news that some more funding, no matter how small or large, will assist local organisers in planning and preparations.

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Comments (18 Comments)

  • Money for this money for that, but when it comes to people, we are Bankrupt.

    Reply
  • it would bring in a lot more than it cost if…. by gathering they meant gathering all Irelands tax exiles back here to pay tax…

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    • Mr. Redmond, its a typical Irish thing, look to others to blame and sort out our mess. Anyone that left this country did so for many reasons but mostly to improve their quality of life, even your so-called tax exiles. Everyone on this planet pays taxes, regardless of where they live.
      So according to you, (and other like minded twits in this country) whoever goes abroad and succeeds has to come back here to clean up our mess??? What about the people that went abroad and has not succeeded? Are they not painted with the same brush?
      Its the Irish jealousy thing again.
      Bono said it right, “when an American passes a house he likes, he says some day I’ll have a house like that. When the Irish man passes the same house, he says, some day I’ll do that ….”

      Reply
  • More cosmetic BS from a government who have more interest in their image abroad than in serving the people who elected them.
    Yes tourism is important to this country, but this stuff just serves as a distraction from the Governments incompetence and their ongoing attacks on home helps, the disabled etc while those with vested interests carry on as before.

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  • They would want to cut the prices hotels and pubs charge for food and drink to attract more visitors. If its going to be a year long touristy thing then how about getting some chain gangs out to pick litter up all over the country, we are paying enough to keep prisoners in prison isn’t it time they gave something back to society.

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  • oh so the government can spare 5million for some ridiculous initiative such as this at the same time their shutting down asylum centres such as Lisbrook house in Galway heaping untold missary on some of the most vulnerable people in society so they can save 2million , sickening !

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    • Mick 18/10/12 #

      You do realise that this event will bring in more than it costs? Think before you comment…

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    • Mick,

      Just like the Millions we spent on Obama and the Queens visits?

      Thousands of Irish return home every year, you know all those who had to leave to find work coming home to see family. But dont worry, Enda will claim this as some sort of Victory by trying to say they came back for the gathering.

      Yet another ton of money taken from the poor to fund the rich.

      Reply
  • It is going to be CLASS! Getting everyone to chip in and do it right? Can’t wait. Bring on the Gathering, stay positive and at least we’ll have a bit of craic

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  • It’s not clear whether the €5 million already committed is for local events or if it is for the national campaign. I would like clarification on this, and if there is a budget for local events, where can it be accessed? Is there an application procedure?

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  • I assume all you positive people above (Mick, Rommel etc) will be applying for a share of the funding and organising events in your own local areas?

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    • Yes Ryan, there really aren’t enough festivals and events in West Cork to get people to visit. I’m sure a few more will make all the difference.
      Call it negative if you like but in reality it’s window dressing more in keeping with Kenny’s Time magazine spread than a measure to stimulate long term growth.

      Reply
    • Mick 18/10/12 #

      Nope…not working in that industry. Ur point?

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    • Allen Ryan
      How much funding would Dublin 15 or Dublin 11 get to organise a gathering event ?
      What event would you suggest ?
      Get a grip ! This is the last thing people need, Will it provide jobs and food on the table ?

      Reply
  • Free flights in….make your own way home..

    Reply

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