The Gathering Ireland could attract at least 20,000 international visitors to County Clare, injecting up €10 million euro 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 yearlong celebration, aimed at encouraging visitors of all nationalities to visit Clare in 2013.

The Steering Group says that 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 on the 6 April 2013 and will be preceded by a week-long programme of events. Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board is also leading the way with Phoenix Week from 14th to 21st March 2013 when the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Phoenix and Ennis will be celebrated. Over 100 international visitors from Phoenix have already confirmed their visit to Ennis for the week.

Nationally, an estimated 7,000 people have attended 52 community meetings since they kicked off in June.  160 people attended a Community meeting in Ennis in July. Some 600 new Gathering events are now being planned at community level across the country.

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