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Tuesday 28 March 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# the gathering

All time
# Holy Show
Pope dolls and stained-glass Skodas: Day 1 at the World Meeting of Families
Catholics from around the world began to gather at the RDS this morning – here’s how it played out.
# War of Words
Micheál Martin has a pop at Leo, who is having none of it
The Fianna Fáil leader said UHI could cost families €6,000 a year.
# tell your story
This crowdsourcing project wants to animate Irish people's memories
“Some will make you laugh, others might make you cry – but they are all genuine Irish stories told from the heart,” the project co-ordinator said.
# festival fun
Over 175 regional festivals to benefit from €500k Fáilte Ireland funding
The funding will support music, sport, food and cultural festivals around the country.
# on a visit
The Gathering-lite? Government propose new plan to keep the Diaspora visiting
€3 million is being provided to support 700 local community-based events and festivals each year.
# Céad Míle Fáilte
Government backs National Diaspora Centre but wants a third-party to pay for it
Leo Varadkar says that the funds are not there and those expressing interest will be asked if they would be able to meet some or all of the capital costs.
# Prime Numbers
RTE, health insurance, and the Queen: The week in numbers
Plus: What percentage of people aged 50 and older in Ireland are obese?
# Céad Míle Fáilte
Some good news: 7 million people visited Ireland this year
The tourism industry says this was the best year for tourism in Ireland since the recession began.
# Your Say
Poll: Do you think 'The Gathering' was a success?
Both the Government and organisers have today been praising ‘The Gathering’ for its effect on tourism. Do you agree with them?
# Everday I'm Shufflin
'I wouldn't run screaming from any challenge': Varadkar open to replacing Reilly
The Transport Minister has said he would “love to stay where I am” but did said he would be “willing to serve anywhere the Taoiseach wants me”.
# Tourism
'A great success': The Gathering delivered up to 275k visitors to Ireland this year
Research by the project’s director Jim Miley shows that the government’s tourism initiative has been a success this past year, generating as much as €170 million in revenue.
# hello you
Here's what happens when you are the millionth American to come to Ireland
You get a giant card and tickets for a return trip.
# News Fix
Here’s What Happened Today: Tuesday
Everyone’s talking about the Peru two, Hector leaving 2FM, and what Pope Francis did for his birthday.
# 8 million welcomes
Over eight million tourists visited Ireland in 2013
The tourism industry netted Ireland €3.64 billion this year, with visitors up seven per cent.
# Tourism
Tourists spent big using payment cards during The Gathering
A 21 per cent increase was driven by UK and US visitors in 2013.
# Coming Home
Watch the heartwarming moment a Dublin family are reunited for Christmas
Sue Reilly won a competition to bring a loved one home from Oz. Here’s the moment they touched down.
# Fungi
Fungi gave this American couple in Dingle an awful fright
Fungi might be nearing retirement, but he’s pulling out all the stops for The Gathering.
# Summer Sun
This year was the best summer for tourist numbers since 2008
There were 2.2 million overseas trips to Ireland in the period from July to September, a 7.8 per cent increase on 2012.
# Tourism
The Gathering might return in five or seven years time, says Varadkar
The Gathering brought in more than 300,000 tourists, but he said it is not something that can be done too often.
# the gathering
In pictures: Day two of the Fine Gael national conference
Not much happening in Limerick but delegates are having a great laugh by the looks of it.
# the gathering
After a tumultuous year, Fine Gaelers descend on Limerick to take stock
A lot done, more to do.
# NECK CRAMP
Flightfest is kicking off about now, here’s what will be flying over your head
More than 30 aircraft will be flying low over Dublin today.
# News Fix
Here’s What Happened Today: Friday
Everyone’s talking about the death of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and the US moving closer to military intervention in Syria.
# Summer Holiday
North American visitors drive summer tourism increase
There were over two million overseas trips to Ireland between May and July, a 7.6 per cent rise on the same period last year.
# the gathering
The head of the CIA is bringing this piece of Kilteevan turf back to the White House
John Brennan attended an event at the church his Irish father was baptised in, in the small Roscommon village on Friday night.
# the gathering
The head of the CIA is going to a gathering in Roscommon tonight
John Brennan, whose father is a Roscommon native, is returning to his ancestral homeland in a personal capacity tonight.
# the gathering
Teen charged over blinding female emigrant with glass bottle in Birr
Marie Gauvin, a Birr native was visiting Ireland from Canada for The Gathering when she was hit by a glass, leaving her blind.
# Flying
Over two million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport last month
New figures show a seven per cent increase on passenger numbers when compared to the same period last year.
# Hotels
Hotels in Dublin made €10,000 in profit per room last year
Sales levels are slowly getting back to peak levels but Dublin is significantly outpacing the rest of the country.
# hot spots
Drumroll, please: And the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland are...
Dublin Zoo? Book of Kells? Tayto Park? Here’s the places that took the top spots on this year’s list compiled by Fáilte Ireland.
# World Record
New world record as 1,693 form longest Riverdance line
The previous record of 652 people dancing in a continuous line was held by Nashville, Tennessee.
# Hero's welcome
No comment from O'Driscoll or Heaslip as Irish Lions welcomed home
Sean O’Brien and Jonny Sexton carried out their final press duties on a long 2012/13 season.
# JFK 50
JFK would be proud of Ireland's accomplishments - John Kerry
The US Secretary of State has been sharing his thoughts on the Kennedy visit, 50 years on.
# CLAIRE CLAIR CLARE
County Clare tries to get the highest number of Claires in one room
Claires, Clares, Clairs all came together to try and set a world record.
# OH ME OH MY
The weirdest Joe Dolan Bachelor Festival ad you'll see today
You won’t believe your eyes.
# Welcome home
Stolen medieval carvings to return to Clare after 150 years
The carvings were taken from Scattery Island in the Shannon Estuary years ago – but will be brought ‘home’ next month.
# Shakedown
Is The Gathering actually working?
Central Statistic Office figures show tourism has increased by four per cent.
# postcard perfect
John Hinde: Nostalgic images are not just for Ireland
London and Amsterdam will see exhibition of shots from major landmarks around England and, of course, Ireland.
# make it irish
According to Jamie Heaslip, it's the Irish and British Lions
The Ireland captain could be on to something.
# BOI
From Cork? You can now get your very own Cork-specific passport
It’s for Rebel Week, boi!