The Gathering is a scam, says Byrne

Actor Gabriel Byrne has labelled the Government’s high-profile Irish diaspora Gathering next year as a “scam”.

Speaking on Today FM’s The Last Word, Mr Byrne said despite the fact he has served as Ireland’s Cultural Ambassador, it would be wrong to ignore how many Irish emigrants feel abandoned.

He added Irish-Americans are not receptive to being “shaken down” for money, and described Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s speech launching the project as “offensive”.