"Meitheal... This is an old Irish tradition where people in rural communities gathered together to help each other out at times of harvest and planting. The tradition built strong ties within the community and gave a great sense of place and home to all involved. Our community has now spread a little further than the local farm and we are perhaps in greater need of such a Meitheal, in other words a gathering.

Thus far, the gathering has brought many of the diaspora home, and no matter how far they may have travelled, and for whatever the reason, there is no doubt that this little island in the Atlantic will always be home. For this reason I love the Gathering Pin . It is the shape of Home to so many - it is a charming little piece of Ireland, where you can see where you come from, perhaps remember where you have visited.  It is a heart warming emblem that we all love... A fond memory of school days and the Map on the school room wall, the stamps of long ago, its wonderful shape reaching out to welcome the Gatherers home.

It is with great pride that I wear my Gathering Pin. I enjoy sharing them with my guests at the Abbey Court Hotel and have already presented 600 guests from far and wide with this link to home. I now look forward to more Irish people returning home in the near future."

Matthias Muller, General Manager of the Abbey Court Hotel

The Irish Hotels Federation has produced a specially designed Pin in support of "The Gathering 2013".

This year, the welcome that Ireland extends to visitors is nowhere more prevalent than in our hotels and guesthouses. With this in mind, we are delighted to make The Gathering pins available to our Members and encourage you to use these as a gift or gesture, particularly for international visitors to your property.

To order a box of The Gathering pins, please download and complete the order form HERE or contact the Irish Hotels Federation on 01 497 6459 or info@ihf.ie.

The Gathering Pins are available in boxes of 50 @ €50 plus VAT or 100 @ €100 plus VAT. The postage and packaging is €6.50 per box. Special discounts are available for bulk orders. However, for multiple orders going to the same address, the postage and packaging will be reduced. We will advise the exact cost of this to you upon ordering. Please note that these pins are not for resale. 

October Special - 50% Off!

Contact Carol at berginc@ihf.ie to order your pins today.