Ireland kicks off the year of the GatheringBy Felicity Long

Tourism to Ireland has been in a slump for the last few years, adding to the woes of an economy already struggling from the impact of the Eurozone crisis. In 2013, tourism officials are pinning their hopes on the success of its biggest international marketing campaign to date, built around the Gathering, a series of events aimed at luring home the Irish diaspora, their friends and families.

For the record, there are about 70 million who claim Irish ancestry around the world, and this year cities and towns around Ireland are pulling out all the stops to host cultural, sporting and musical events that showcase the best of what the country Air Jordan 1s has to offer.

Those of us who travel to Ireland frequently and have seen the rise and stumble of the so called Celtic Tiger the boom that, among other things, spurred the rise of gourmet restaurants, trendy hotels and all Nike Air Foamposite One the other trappings of a high end economy will note a difference in tone in the Gathering from previous marketing campaigns. Instead of stressing the new, young, more modern Ireland, the Gathering is an homage to the country’s roots, its oldest traditions and, most importantly, its sense of fun.

The Gathering officially kicked off New Year’s Eve in Dublin, a city that knows how to throw a party, but it will continue all year in just about every village big enough to have a pub.

Hotels and tour operators are, of course, getting into the act, with packages designed around special Gathering events.

The Kildare Hotel, Spa Country Club, for example, known to locals as the K Club, will host the Gathering Golf Classic, a four day golf tournament in collaboration with Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA and Tourism Ireland and aimed at North American visitors who want to play at the resort’s two courses.

The tournament will run from July 14 to 18, and participants can take advantage of a package that includes four rounds of golf, four nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast, cocktail party, gala dinner and prizes. The package is priced from $1,625 per person, double.

Brendan Vacations is creating a number of group and customized vacations around the Gathering and timed to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. A five night, guided Irish Jaunt that takes in many of Ireland’s most famous sights, for example, is priced from $725 per person, land.

A four night Dublin package enables participants to pick from a Air Jordan 9 menu of activities and features grandstand tickets to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It’s priced from $455 per person, land, but must be booked by Jan. 15. offer ‘Beercation’ packageThe JW Marriott Chicago has partnered with the Lagunitas Brewing Co. to offer the Lagunitas Air Jordan 5s Beercation package through Dec. Stay. Love’ planThe Scarlet Huntington, a 134 room hotel in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood, introduced the Air Jordan 16s Eat. Stay. Love package, valid through Nov. 30.