The year-long salute to all things Irish got under way last evening with a torchlight procession through the streets of Dublin as the Gathering officially kicked-off with a New Year’s Eve festival.

Today marks the launch of The Gathering, a year-long celebration of all things Irish and a readymade opportunity to promote this country’s image abroad.

A call has been made to Ireland’s diaspora to come home to where the heart is.

A call has been made to Ireland’s diaspora to come home to where the heart is.