The Steering Group for ‘The Gathering Limerick’ has announced it is producing a Calendar of Events for 2013 which will be used as a promotional and marketing tool for Limerick.
Members of the public, community groups and organisations are being asked to submit details of events they plan to hold in 2013. The Calendar of Events will be profiled on the Gathering Ireland website, www.thegatheringireland.com, and on www.limerick.ie. The Calendar will also be distributed nationally and internationally.
Dozens of novel and unique ideas have so far put forward as possible events for “The Gathering Limerick 2013”.
Amongst the events proposed at a recent community public in Adare were an International Limericks Festival, a 35th anniversary reunion of players who participated in the famous Munster versus All Blacks game, a Church Music Festival, a Water Festival on the River Shannon, West Limerick Harvest Fest, a Loyalty Discount Card covering attractions and hospitality aimed at overseas visitors, a walking tour of Limerick to incorporate culture, food, history and music, Irish College for Adults (matchmaking event), a rowing event between the two main bridges over the River Shannon in Limerick City, the twinning of Limerick GAA clubs with clubs around the world, an International Dragons’ Den-styled event bringing together importers and exporters, and a Fitzgerald clan gathering in Adare and Bruff celebrating Limerick’s connections with the Kennedy political dynasty.
The Gathering has been described as one of the biggest tourism initiatives ever staged in Ireland and is expected to bring 325,000 extra visitors to the country. A steering group has been established in each county to coordinate local events.
Donal Fitzgibbon, Chairperson of ‘The Gathering Limerick 2013’ Steering Group, which is being spearheaded by Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council, explained that The Gathering is geared toward inviting anyone with a connection to Limerick to come and visit during 2013.
He continued: “We are delighted with the outcomes from the public meeting in the Woodlands Hotel and the genuine passion and enthusiasm that was evident on the night. We anticipate that a further Gathering meeting will be held at a Limerick City venue during October, details of which will be announced shortly. What we now need is for people to go ahead and start planning their events and make contact with overseas friends, relations, neighbours and anybody interested in coming to Limerick in 2013.
“We are asking all groups/individuals who are planning events, no matter how large or small they may be, to submit details as a Calendar of Events for 2013 is currently being prepared. This Calendar will be a key promotions and marketing tool for Limerick for the year of The Gathering.
“We hope to focus on a number of headline events during the year and the Steering Group is continuing to work through all the suggestions that have been received to date. Our key task is to mobilise and drive The Gathering throughout Limerick by engaging, planning and coordinating community-based activity,” Mr. Fitzgibbon added.
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 (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.
Members of the public, community groups and organisations are being asked to submit details of events they plan to hold in 2013. The Calendar of Events will be profiled on the Gathering Ireland website, www.thegatheringireland.com, and on www.limerick.ie. The Calendar will also be distributed nationally and internationally.
Dozens of novel and unique ideas have so far put forward as possible events for “The Gathering Limerick 2013”.
Amongst the events proposed at a recent community public in Adare were an International Limericks Festival, a 35th anniversary reunion of players who participated in the famous Munster versus All Blacks game, a Church Music Festival, a Water Festival on the River Shannon, West Limerick Harvest Fest, a Loyalty Discount Card covering attractions and hospitality aimed at overseas visitors, a walking tour of Limerick to incorporate culture, food, history and music, Irish College for Adults (matchmaking event), a rowing event between the two main bridges over the River Shannon in Limerick City, the twinning of Limerick GAA clubs with clubs around the world, an International Dragons’ Den-styled event bringing together importers and exporters, and a Fitzgerald clan gathering in Adare and Bruff celebrating Limerick’s connections with the Kennedy political dynasty.
The Gathering has been described as one of the biggest tourism initiatives ever staged in Ireland and is expected to bring 325,000 extra visitors to the country. A steering group has been established in each county to coordinate local events.
Donal Fitzgibbon, Chairperson of ‘The Gathering Limerick 2013’ Steering Group, which is being spearheaded by Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council, explained that The Gathering is geared toward inviting anyone with a connection to Limerick to come and visit during 2013.
He continued: “We are delighted with the outcomes from the public meeting in the Woodlands Hotel and the genuine passion and enthusiasm that was evident on the night. We anticipate that a further Gathering meeting will be held at a Limerick City venue during October, details of which will be announced shortly. What we now need is for people to go ahead and start planning their events and make contact with overseas friends, relations, neighbours and anybody interested in coming to Limerick in 2013.
“We are asking all groups/individuals who are planning events, no matter how large or small they may be, to submit details as a Calendar of Events for 2013 is currently being prepared. This Calendar will be a key promotions and marketing tool for Limerick for the year of The Gathering.
“We hope to focus on a number of headline events during the year and the Steering Group is continuing to work through all the suggestions that have been received to date. Our key task is to mobilise and drive The Gathering throughout Limerick by engaging, planning and coordinating community-based activity,” Mr. Fitzgibbon added.
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 (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.
