The Gathering - October Update

Cork Rebel Week

As the end of the year draws near you might have thought that the Gathering Ireland 2013 would be winding down...not so! There are still over 500 events and initiatives due to take place before January 1st. Highlights include Cork Rebel Week, the Gathering Poem, an opportunity to create a unique, epic narrative about Ireland and the New Year's Eve Festival, which will see the Gathering initiative culminate in style.

Cork Rebel Week - 14th - 20th October

County Cork, affectionately known as 'The Rebel County', is inviting anyone with a love for Ireland to celebrate its first ever Cork Rebel Week as part of the Gathering Ireland campaign. Visas will be issued to gain access to Cork in exchange for a donation to Cork local charities. Main events include International Cork Day, International Food Day, International Cork Parade as well as a number of sporting events such as the Cork County Senior and Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, will take place Sunday 20th October.A special Cork Rebel Week Passport will also be issued to international visitors. The passport entitles holders to a range of accommodation, hospitality, retail and leisure discounts as well as special offers across Cork during Rebel Week.

Gathering Poem

A poem about Ireland, by the people of Ireland, wherever they are. The Gathering Poem is intended as Ireland's monument to peace, a gift to the world from the Irish people. Organisers are inviting everyone Irish and of Irish descent worldwide, to contribute four lines to this brand new poem about Ireland. An editorial team will select the lines that will join the poem. The resulting work will be published in The Gathering Poem book, along with the biographies of all the contributors chosen and will be presented to Ireland's president and poet, Michael D.Higgins in December 2013. Closing date for entries is October 19th, 2013.

Rugby League World Cup Australia v Ireland - 9 Nov - Limerick

Ireland's Wolfhounds rugby league team will take on Australia in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup on the 9th of November in Munster's home ground Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick, having qualified automatically thanks to their fantastic performance in 2008 in Australia.

Festival of Family and Friends - 4th - 10th November, Belfast

Titanic Belfast, the world's largest Titanic visitor attraction will go back in time next month to celebrate history, culture and heritage in a Gathering Festival of Family and Friends. The seven-day Gathering is suitable for people of all ages and cultures with many free, and exclusive, events, such as lectures, dances, story-telling, tours and free family-tree and ancestry-tracing advice.

Back to our Past - 18th - 20th October

The Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) is hosting a free advisory service at Back To Our Past in the RDS from 18th-20th October 2013. You can book a 20 minute session with a professional accredited genealogist to get advice on researching your family tree.

A galloping Gathering at the Leopardstown Christmas Racing Festival

They say there's no such thing as a 'sure bet' in the racing world. We have to disagree. Because if you're looking for racing thrills, mixed with Christmas cheer and Gathering greatness, The Leopardstown Christmas Festival comes first every time. So who's up for a flutter? The final day of The Leopardstown Christmas Racing Festival also marks the beginning of the official New Year's Eve Festival. One party rolling into another: magic.

New Year's Eve Festival Dublin, 31st December

A year of Gatherings will end with one big Gathering celebration on 31st December at NYE Dublin. Dublin was recently voted one of the top 5 places to ring in a New Year by top travel publication, Lonely Planet, couple that with the fact that Dublin City has been voted Europe's friendliest city, not once, but twice (according to Tripadvisor) and as a year of Gatherings draws to a close, Dublin is THE place to be to celebrate 2013 and ring in 2014.

Festival Highlights include:

The River of Light

Hundreds of twinkling candles will be set afloat on the River Liffey during The River of Light. The candles represent all nationalities that journeyed to Ireland as well as the Irish diaspora themselves.

People's Procession of Light

On the same day, another magical event takes place through the streets of Dublin City: The People's Procession of Light. The city will twinkle and sparkle as hundreds of participants and performers illuminate Dublin with dazzling light displays, music and dance. This is a free family event and will be the perfect start to your NYE in Dublin.

The Big Brunch

When the morning sun shines out over Dublin City on January 1st 2014, you might think the festivities have ended. But don't worry, we've got you covered! The Big Brunch has everything you need to revitalise after the night before. Temple Bar's Meeting House Square will transform into a delicious food market with local entertainment to boot.

New Year's Eve Festival

This year's festival is going to be mad...literally. We've got the sultans of ska, the kings of swing: Madness headlining this epic gig. Joining Madness, we've got a musician who stormed onto the music scene in Ireland and internationally: Ryan Sheridan. Fresh from reaching number one in the German iTunes charts, Ryan's hook-filled, guitar stompers are sure to get the crowds jumping. There'll be plenty more big name artists announced in the run up and tickets are a mere €25, which has got to be the bargain of the year! What better way to see in the New Year than with rockin' tunes and a feel-good party atmosphere all over Dublin's Fair City! The countdown to The Countdown Concert is on!

Here's to you 2014

When the clock strikes 12 on December 31st, The Gathering will come to a close. What a year it will have been! From the Town of a Thousand beards, to the Riverdance world record success and all the other whacky Gatherings in between, The Gathering has brought out the very best in Ireland.

It's going to be a real challenge to top the year of The Gathering 2013. But that's exactly what we're going to do. We've gotten a taste for being the festival centre of the world. So expect bigger and better things in Ireland for 2014.