The Gathering reaches intense levels of sadness, courtesy of Al Jazeera.
Bearded Galway musicians at 00:40 and Jim “All tourism is about money” Miley at 01:03.
Also: We had wondered where all the vintage post boxes were going.
Meanwhile…
I think the bulk of what I was saying about nurturing and developing a real relationship with a very complex group of emigrants is absolutely essential. As one guy said to me: ‘stop calling us tourists. We’re exiles, we’re emigrants’.
Cork Day looks set to persist as an idea with City Manager Tim Lucey having given an undertaking to cost the initiative ahead of next year.
“It’s very welcome and could tie in well with the Gathering,” said Mr O’Halloran
…“There is stuff about our culture that is unique. We have a huge diaspora all over the world and in my mind; there is huge potential here for free marketing and advertising. We’ve seen how effective Arthur’s Day can be, and this is something not associated with alcohol.”
Jim Miley (above), project director of The Gathering is being paid € 168,000 a year in his role head of the tourism initiative. Miley, former chief executive of MyHome.ie and a former General Secretary of Fine Gael won a tender in May to run a “national tourism initiative and community development project.”
There were several applications for the role from senior marketing and tourism industry figures. Miley signed a contract on a salary of € 14,000 a month on May 18.
Gathering Chief Rakes in € 168,000 (Colin Coyle, Sunday Times – behind paywall)