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View of Clifden in Co Galway. David Steele via Shutterstock

Ireland tops Fodor's travel guide list for 2013

The travel guide promotes the Gathering as one of the ‘must see’ events of 2013.

IRELAND HAS MADE it onto Fodor’s travel list for 2013 as one of the top places to visit in the new year. The list covers everything from destinations rising in popularity to big events over the next year with information on accommodation, food and culture.

The Gathering is listed as one of the most highly anticipated events for travelers in 2013 with references to Dublin, kissing the Blarney stone and attending Galway’s oyster festival.

Fodors Travel Guide asks “why go now?” and responds with:

Throughout 2013, Ireland will host events, festivals, and reunions in honor of the more than 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish heritage. The Gathering welcomes those with Irish roots back to their ancestral homeland to reconnect with the country’s lush landscapes and vibrant cultures. Visitors can track their genealogies, explore the villages of their forebears, and mingle with current residents. More than just a celebration for those with Irish blood, The Gathering offers music festivals, pub crawls, and public gatherings in all corners of the country for those who are Irish in spirit as well.

Welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said, “This accolade couldn’t have come at a better time as we get ready to kick off our year-long celebration of all things Irish, with The Gathering Ireland 2013″.

He said the listing provides Tourism Ireland with another opportunity to promote the country as a ‘must see’ destination.

“Tourism Ireland has had a busy programme of promotional activity in place around the globe this autumn to promote The Gathering Ireland – with a series of high-profile Ministerial launches in key markets, an intensive programme of engagement with Gathering ‘enablers’ and Irish business networks, as well as promotions to influential travel trade contacts and consumers,” he said.

Read: Tourism Ireland wins two major marketing awards>

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40 Comments
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    Mute Arbitrasure
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:34 PM

    God I hate the self-loathing so many Irish people are afflicted with.

    McSavage should do a show outlining the “Top 10 Reasons Why Irish People Despise Themselves, Positivity and the Success of Others”.

    105
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    Mute Little Jim
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:38 PM

    All that hate is not good for you Arb.
    This is great news!

    32
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    Mute HolidaysIreland
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:29 PM

    Ten photos which show the beautiful scenery of Ireland at its best.
    http://holidaysaroundireland.com/2011/09/10-photos-of-ireland/

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:51 PM

    Stunning photos, there’s no doubt there are some beautiful places on our little island.

    47
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:21 PM

    And this video is pretty impressive too

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5emdftOIoos

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    Mute eoghan
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:41 PM

    Brilliant link Paul just shows you from the video what we have here in Ireland but the weather is the problem here.i always say I’d never have to go holidays aboard if we had good summers.

    37
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    Mute Damien Kelly
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    Dec 20th 2012, 6:33 PM

    But if it wasn’t for the often brutal weather we wouldn’t have the amazingly green country we have, not to mention the pubs.

    43
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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:26 PM

    If I was a foreigner I’d go elsewhere. Over-priced pubs & restaurants, infrastructure that’s 50 years behind the rest of Western Europe and appalling climate. Sure it’s a great place if u want to kiss a lump of rock in Cork or have a bit of ‘craic’ with the locals. This ‘Gathering’ thing is, as Gabriel Byrne said, a shakedown.

    82
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    Mute HeinzKetchup
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:37 PM

    If I wasn’t white i’d call me a cracker.

    16
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    Mute Ryan oneill
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:42 PM

    What are you an Oreo

    31
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    Mute Michael J Collins
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:53 PM

    Neil
    Fodors is one of the most respected travel guides in the world and they can boost our tourism business for the benefit of our economy and our people at a time of great difficulty and great need and all you do is put the boot in to sabotage any efforts that are being made to get us off the floor. I use the term “sabotage” in the same manner that the Hard Left on this site use language such as “traitors” in respect of our elected Ministers and Government as they go about their Democratic business of restoring our economic sovereignty.
    It seems that nothing is good enough for you Neil and that you wish for some unknown but likely reason to want our Society to fail. It’s as if there’s a gain for you or your friends in such a catastrophe. I know this will be regarded as an ad hominid attack but it’s overdue and those that you attack don’t have the ease of facility that’s available to me on this keyboard right now.
    So I will defend the status quo against the prophets of misery, the doomsayers and the politically sick. Perhaps the Mayans will accommodate your negativity tomorrow night and spare us the continuous sanctimonious anti Government drivel that you spot day after day.

    172
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    Mute Brian MAGEE
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:15 PM

    Neil,

    the 50 year old intrastructure is part of the charm. its what draws people out of the meteroplois that they live in.

    69
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    Mute Ryan oneill
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:16 PM

    Negative positivity! Love it #EndOfTheWorld PEACE

    25
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    Mute Stephen Griffith
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:17 PM

    So go, and bore them with your whinging.

    33
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    Mute Paul Callaghan
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:39 PM

    The review was so good Gabrielle Byrne booked him and his family

    22
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    Mute Joe Walsh
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    Dec 20th 2012, 6:00 PM

    do something and stop moaning.

    25
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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Dec 21st 2012, 1:15 AM

    Collins – ur point is despicable, outrageous and utterly insane. Anyone who comes on here and utters hostility towards the state of the country is by and large derided. I have no interest in or wish for the ‘failure’ of our society although on a daily basis we are not functioning. U go on with ur ludicrous defense of our ‘government’ a shower of parasites who I take credit for condemning. Idiot – u shame the man (Collins) whose name u demean.

    2
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    Mute eoghan
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:49 PM

    Ireland is one of the best countries to visit in the world if we had a summer,it’s not over priced its reasonable the hotels are some the best hotels in Europe and the food it brilliant,all we need is the summer weather.but more flights to Shannon,cork,Kerry,knock

    60
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    Mute Tom Harpur
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:32 PM

    Us Irish are a population of whiners moaners begrudgers. A bit of positivity will go along way and stop putting our beautiful country down Ireland has lovely places to visit and beautiful scenery yes it’s a shame about our climate but that’s one thing that makes our country so lush and green.

    49
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    Mute Jim Walsh
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:46 PM

    Good news. This is a widely recognised and used publication and therefore its recommendation can only be helpful to the tourist industry.

    32
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    Mute John Duncan
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:15 PM

    Good to know I had never heard of it ’till now

    12
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    Mute JustMe
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:24 PM

    Ireland is fantastic with its scenery and history. Now all that needs to happen is to get a grip on the weather :-D Could be an idea to promote April & May as prime visiting times.

    31
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    Mute Gary Byrne
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:48 PM

    Although I agree that this his a positive thing for tourism, I actually feel sorry for any tourist coming here. After all the shite our government have thrown at us this past year, we’re supposed to dust ourselves off and smile for the visitors. It will be like turning up at a couples house for a dinner party and you just know they were tearing strips off each other before you showed up. Everyone will smile politely but the atmosphere could be cut like em…… a carer’s respite payment.

    29
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    Mute Sluazcanal
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:02 PM

    I feel sorry for them too. Some poor tourist will get caught talking to some Irish person that has a degree in moaning.

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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:54 PM

    Problem is the system for getting tourists out to the countryside they see on the adverts is very poor. Hence so many just end up stuck in a Dublin hotel and then go home.
    There should be a better integration between small towns, B&B’s and the overall quality of the experience. The creation of ‘tourist towns’ might be a way to go.

    28
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    Mute Rob O'Hanrahan
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    Dec 20th 2012, 6:32 PM

    Everyone loves Ireland, except for the people that live here…

    23
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    Mute Martin Healy
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:42 PM

    Never heard of Fordor’s, lets hope it’s influential.

    20
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    Mute Jim Walsh
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    Dec 20th 2012, 4:48 PM

    Fordor’s Guides are very widely used. Probably not as well known here but they have been around for years.

    31
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:15 PM

    I thought it was a Hobbit thing.

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    Mute Paul MC
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:55 PM

    Nice one Paul
    : -)

    6
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    Mute Darren Moore
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    Dec 20th 2012, 8:46 PM

    We have an amazing country and tourists love coming here . We may not have hot weather however we have mild enough weather with little chance if your holiday being cut short by bush fires , tornados , hurricanes etc. we have a country rich in culture and history and amazing scenery . But the greatest thing of all and every tourist I speak to says the biggest attraction are the people . We are very friendly, welcoming and good fun .

    18
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    Mute C Loftus
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    Dec 20th 2012, 6:55 PM

    Ireland is beautiful and there is so much to do and see regardless of the weather. We can’t change it and after all it’s a great conversation starter.! Thousands of people are employed in the Tourism sector and anything that helps to retain and hopefully create new jobs is very welcome.
    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6yuXAASA0

    17
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    Mute Thomas Richardson
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    Dec 20th 2012, 5:53 PM

    Sure if that don’t work we can always frack the f#<k out of it.

    15
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    Mute C Loftus
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    Dec 20th 2012, 9:31 PM

    All good news here today for Tourism. Ireland has just been named as Best Tourism Destination in US Travel Magazine Awards. Another good news story.! No mention of the weather either.!
    http://www.tourismireland.com/Home!/About-Us/Press-Releases/2012/Ireland-Named-Best-Tourism-Destination”-in-U-S-T.aspx

    9
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Dec 20th 2012, 9:49 PM

    Paid advertising.

    4
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    Mute Stephen_Lynch
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    Dec 20th 2012, 9:55 PM

    Its called doing business Martin. Scratching the ball sack all day is not an option in times like this.

    11
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Dec 20th 2012, 9:48 PM

    Back handers and brown envolopes GALORE to get this advertising on that mag I’ve been told.

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    Mute Ed
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    Dec 20th 2012, 8:13 PM

    Right lads , let me remind you , that Scotland ran one of these love your country events in the last couple of years, do any of you recall ?
    Please remember your place in the world Ireland nobody will care or even notice.
    I love my country so please stop this nonsense.

    5
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    Mute Stephen_Lynch
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    Dec 20th 2012, 9:51 PM

    and they made quiet an impact of it, thousands of jobs, hundreds of million in revenue and reconnected to their emigre’s with long term benefit.

    Gabriel Byrne, great guy, war right to a degree about what he said, a big degree but this will be a big success and we need something like this to kick start our tourism industry once more.

    Who ever came up with this should be thanked by the state for their service.

    7
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    Mute Ben Fewkes
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    Dec 20th 2012, 11:16 PM

    What a coincidence! It’s at the top of mine too!

    3
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