If you want to participate, download the application form here
and return the completed version to fergus.horgan@cklp.ie

Kilkenny Musical Society is celebrating the success of their 40th anniversary production of Gilbert & Sullivans Pirates of Penzance.  The show, which is playing in the  Watergate theatre untol Saturday the 13th has been very well received, with local media singing its praises.  You can read the Kilkenny People’s full review here, and tickets can be booked through the Watergate Theatre

Kilkenny County Library Service has prepared a series of six such postcards featuring pictures of Kilkenny, past and present. The original postcards were published in the early 1900’s and the ‘now’ photographs were taken from the same perspective last year. The postcards are available through library branches or by contacting your Gathering co-ordinator, Aisling Hayes.

The Bridge, Graiguenamanagh

Designed by George Smith, the bridge crosses the River Barrow in the centre of Graiguenamanagh and was built in 1764-7. During the rebellion of 1798, British forces blew up some of the arches to close access to Kilkenny from County Carlow. It is one of several bridges rebuilt in Kilkenny following the great flood of 1763, including those in Thomastown, Inistioge, Castlecomer and Green’s Bridge in Kilkenny.

High Street, Kilkenny

Dominated by the Tholsel building, high street is at the heart of Kilkenny City. Originally constructed in 1579, the Tholsel was extended in 1761. It has in the past been used as a customs house, a guildhall and a courthouse, and is currently in use as the town hall. It also stores the ‘Liber Primus Kilkenniensis’ which  contains records of decisions taken from 1231. High Street is also well known for the medieval lanes, or ‘slips’ which run down to Kieran street to the east.

John’s Quay, Kilkenny

The River Nore runs for 140km, from Devil’s Bit Mountain in north Tipperary, through Counties Laois and Kilkenny, to the sea at Waterford Harbour.  The Nore has played a central part in the history of Kilkenny and with the Rivers Barrow and Suir, forms the ‘3 Sisters’. Major tributaries of the Nore include the Dinin, the Breagagh at Kilkenny City, the King’s River, the Little Arrigle and the Black Water. The Nore is crossed at Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Thomastown, Inistioge and Kilkenny City.

Bessborough House, Piltown

Built in the mid 18^th century for Brabazon Ponsonby (1679-1768), the first Earl of Bessborough, Bessborough House was burned during the Civil War. It was reconstructed in 1929 and used as a convent until 1944, when it became the home of Kildalton Agricultural College.

Church Road, Johnstown

The  village of Johnstown features an attractive diamond at its centre. The nearby Spa Well at Ballyspellan was celebrated in verse by the great Johnathan Swift after a visit in the 1700’s. Check out Johnstown Historical Society’s facebook site for lots of archive photographs at http://ow.ly/jFrtr

The Square, Castlecomer

The market square and street layout of modern Castlecomer date to the 1630’s when the Wandesford family began construction of the present town near the location of the Norman castle.  Coal mining began in earnest in the area around 1640, and the mines remained open until 1969, providing employment for many in the surrounding area.

We had our Brochure Launch in Stathams Bar at the Pembroke Hotel here in Kilkenny on Wednesday night. You can read the event  here, and download the brochure here.

The Marble City Pulls Out All the Stops As Kilkenny Launches its Gathering Brochure for 2013

Today, Wednesday, 27^th February, 2013, Kilkenny enthusiastically launched its Gathering Programme for 2013 with a celebratory launch event in The Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny. Kilkenny Ambassadors Bobby Kerr, Evanne Ni Chuilinn and Darren Holden were on hand to join in the celebrations as the Kilkenny Gathering Steering Committee unveiled its official calendar of events for the Gathering Ireland 2013.

Key highlights from the programme of events include; Tradfest, a feast of traditional music, song and dance full of free events and activities, which takes place on St. Patricks Weekend, 16^th & 17^th March in Kilkenny city and the Castlecomer Dig Deep festival which runs over July and August and will explore the rich mining heritage of Castlecomer and the surrounding areas, and the Crafts Council of Ireland’s celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the pioneering Kilkenny Design Workshops featuring their flagship exhibition in November.

A number of clan gatherings are also planned to take place over the year and will feature family names including Wall, Harper and Coogan.  Other events of note are the Savour Kilkenny Festival of Food, where you can experience 50 shades of flavour from October 24^th-28th, and the Coons This is Who We Are, a week long celebratory event in Coon and Croghtenclogh, featuring a host of events including an operatic recital Ms. Rachel Somers, and a series of plays by local drama group Kilquan Players.  Some communities from around the county are also planning smaller local events like the school reunion in Kilmacoliver.

Sporting associations and clubs will also play their part in The Gathering, with Kilkenny Rugby Football Club hosting the first annual Marble City Sevens tournament on 28^th-30^th of June, Kilkenny G.A.A. welcoming a team from the Indianapolis GAA in July and Castlecomer Golf Club hosting a week of special events for former members in July and August.

Charitable organisations will also benefit from the year of events, with a law enforcement torch run in aid of the Special Olympics, featuring members of the 2013 Special Olympic team.  The event will see international police officers descend on Kilkenny to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in 2003.Langtons Hotel will also get into spirit of The Gathering when they host the Hennessy Cup at Mount Juliet to raise much needed funds for the Carlow Kilkenny Home Care Team.  And if that’s not enough, other 2013 Kilkenny Gathering highlights include Kilkenny Arts Festival’s Gathering Voices Choir, the Iverk Show homecoming in August and the Emmigration through the Centuries hosted by Rothe House & Garden in April.

Speaking about the launch; Darren Holden of The High Kings said; “The Gathering is a fantastic initiative, and has the potential to provide a real legacy for tourism in Ireland and Kilkenny. Kilkenny is already very attractive to tourists, with the medieval heritage of the town drawing thousands of visitors to the Castle and St. Canice’s and all of the festivals around the county every year, but it’s wonderful to see so many grassroots organisations getting involved in the gathering and expanding on the all great work that has already been done in the county”.

Also commenting on the launch Kilkenny Ambassador Bobby Kerr said; “People from all around the world feel a great affinity for Ireland, not just recent emigrants but third or fourth generation, who still feel a connection to their Irish heritage. It’s all about getting people together, bringing people back to your own parish and town for that sense of welcome for which Ireland is known around the world.”

For further information, either on attending or participating in The Gathering Ireland 2013, please contact aisling.hayes@kilkennycoco.ie,  thegatheringkilkenny@gmail.com or call 087 6264333 or visit www.thegathering.kilkenny.ie

Download a copy of the Kilkenny Gathering Brochure

Kilkenny Gathering Brochure

You can play a part by organising your own gathering event. A gathering can be as small or as large as you want, all you need is one person form overseas. You can upload your event to www.thegatheringireland.com and use it as a central hub to help plan your event.

In addition to our large scale flagship events, we are hoping that the people of Kilkenny will plan and host as many smaller community events as possible.

You can take inspiration from some of the events others have planned, or perhaps you have your own unique idea. Either way, you should make use of A gathering can be as small or as large as you like.  Whether you are an individual, a business or a community or sporting organisation, you can help to make 2013 the year of the Gathering.You can take inspiration from some of the events others have planned, or perhaps you have your own unique idea. Either way, to get started, create an account at www.thegatheringireland.com and upload the details of your event. If you need any help, the local steering group is available to provide assistance, and can be contacted through the links here.

Whatever type of event you are organising, there are a few key things you can do to help your gathering succeed.

1.  Work with your community

You don’t have to work alone. Why not get everyone involved at the planning stage and work together? Pooling all your resources and experience will make your gathering more successful and give the whole community a sense of ownership.

2.  Identify who you want to target

Seek out your connections around the world such as family, friends, school and work colleagues and start communicating with them now. You don’t need to have your event confirmed to start the conversation.

3.  Seek out sponsorship

Local funding through individual or commercial sponsorship can make a big difference to your event. Talk to businesses in your area today.

4.  Work with your local tourism providers

Let local tourism providers like hotels, B&Bs, activity organisers and visitor attractions know about your event in advance. They may be able to support it in some way, either by offering packages or promoting it on their websites.

5.  Keep the local press informed

Stay in touch with your local press. Get to know your local journalists and editors, their deadlines and their particular news interests. Make their jobs easier by providing them with good quality press releases, pictures and captions. Announce events in the community diary.

6. Use www.thegatheringireland.com

There’s lots of resources available on www.thegatheringireland.com, including posters, invites and ‘How to’ guides to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Social media is a powerful and completely free marketing resource. Choose one or two social media tools and use them well.

Kilkenny’s  first gathering event of the year took place on New Years Day in Castlecomer, when around 10,000f people turned out for the 33rd annual Wellie Race. This year, the race featured an international element, with Tyler Chuang of Toronto declared International World Wellie Race Champion!

Competitors were encouraged to run in the national colours of their home or adopted countries. Thousands of euros were raised for a variety of charities, and you can see s gallery of the highlights at the wellie races Facebook page here.