After gathering momentum all year, the organisers of Ireland’s biggest ever tourism promotion were not about to let the pace slacken on the last night of 2013.

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.

Organisers of the Gathering festival have defended giving a showpiece contract for the first official event in the year-long celebration of Irishness to a UK firm.