The former Celtic Tiger, pulling out all the stops this year to
attract much-needed tourism dollars, is holding a family reunion on the
grandest scale. A yearlong program called The Gathering
hopes to draw many of the 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish
ancestry. The program, which kicked off with a three-day New Year’s
party in Dublin replete with a procession, fireworks and a concert
featuring the native headliners Imelda May and Bell X1, will go on to
include clan gatherings, cultural festivals, sporting events and
performances throughout the year and across the country. Meanwhile, Aer
Lingus, United and American are all ramping up service between Ireland
and the United States, home to over half of those global Irish
descendants. 
Discover Ireland !
Summer in the light of Ireland