Varadkar plans a family reunion on national scale

EVERYONE in the country has been urged to invite friends or family home for a massive Irish reunion in 2013, aimed at boosting the economy.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said he will arrange his own reunion of relatives from India, Britain and America, and he wants others to do the same.

Mr Varadkar was unveiling The Gathering 2013, a tourism initiative which he expects will bring 350,000 visitors and 220 million or more to the country.

The initiative will require a marketing budget of between €12m and €16m but it is hoped it will be mainly driven by individuals organising reunions or communities inviting emigrants back to their home towns.

Mr Varadkar said people always ask what they can do to help their country and The Gathering is an answer.

“It’s an opportunity for communities, local authorities, sporting associations, county associations, individuals, families and businesses to do something positive to lift the national morale and help the economy,” he said.

“The goal is that the Irish economy recovers. We went through the anger phase and there’s a steely determination that we are going to get out of the economic crisis and not let it happen again.”

The Irish Hotels Federation said The Gathering will enable tourism bodies to harness the connection people of Irish descent living abroad have with Ireland.

“Our members are fully behind this initiative and we look forward to working closely with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to ensure The Gathering is the enormous success it deserves to be,” said chief executive Tim Fenn.