cork's gathering - Cork Chamber of Commerce

LINKKevin Cullinane, Cork Airport; Darina Allen, Ballymaloe; Cllr John Buttimer, Lord Mayor of Cork and Cllr Barbara Murray, County Mayor.The official launch of Cork’s programme of events for TheGathering 2013 took place at Cork Airport recently with Cllr.Barbara Murray, County Mayor and Cllr. John Buttimer, LordMayor of Cork and Cork Gathering Ambassador, Darina Allenjoined by a host of celebrities with a proud Cork heritage. Over220 spectacular events are planned to take place across Cork Cityand County during 2013.Cork’s key Gathering initiative 'Rebel Week’ will showcase aweek-long series of specially commissioned events running fromOctober 14 th -20 th 2013. Among the diverse events scheduledfor ‘Rebel Week’ include a commemoration of the birth ofrevolutionary leader and Cork’s first son, Michael Collins, onOctober 16 th ; a Cork Global Economic Forum; and a novel ‘CorkPassport’ scheme where those wishing to get their hands onthis coveted document must be willing to prove their Corkcredentials.Commenting on The Gathering’s ‘Rebel Week’, Padraic O’Kane,CEO of Corporate.ie (event promoters of ‘Rebel Week’) said “RebelWeek seeks to embody the spirit of The Gathering in an engagingand, above all, lasting way. We are striving to ensure that throughits activities, the week becomes a catalyst for Cork’s economicrejuvenation in the short and longer-term. With a target ofattracting 5,000 international visitors, the week is geared towardsfostering a sense of inclusivity and ‘family’ among citizens,businesses and all sectors of Cork society that translates into civicand commercial renewal.”From the 22 nd to the 25 th of August 2013, Cork will also play hostto the World Mini Games. The multi-sport event, focused onreduced format versions of sport such as five-a-side football andrugby sevens, will take place at the Mardyke Sports Grounds andvarious locations around the city and county. Up to 30 differentsports will be on offer for adults of all sporting abilities.The Gathering is about reconnecting families and communitiesand extending the invitation to the diaspora to come home andjoin in the celebration. One community embracing this is Allihiesvillage which, from September 12 th to 15 th 2013, is welcomingthe copper-mining diaspora home to trace their ancestral roots.During the 1800’s, Allihies was a flourishing community due theabundance of copper in the area, but when the mines becameexhausted many workers emigrated across the world, particularlyto Butte Montana, a city that is also known today as ‘ShamrockCity’! The celebrations will culminate in a choir singing deepwithin the mines of Allihies.From the Cork Stout Festival to the Spike Island Triathlon to theCork City Marathon taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, June3 rd , and the numerous clan gatherings in between, The Gathering2013 will see Cork opening its arms with a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ towelcome friends and family home from all over the world to bepart of a fun-filled year of celebration and great craic!Significant investment has been made by key stakeholders CorkCounty Council, Cork City Council, Fáilte Ireland, IPB and CorkAirport to the tune of approximately €1 million to ensure thatCork has The Gathering of all Gatherings in 2013.