Gabriel Byrne Declares The Gathering "A Scam"

Actor Gabriel Byrne has described the Gathering as a “scam”, adding that people didn’t like being “shaken down” for money.

His comments have prompted the organisers to defend the initiative saying Mr Byrne’s comments were "just one man’s opinion".

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Project Director Jim Miley said it would be a mistake to paint the diaspora as one unit.

"The diaspora and The Gathering are bigger than any one man, be it Gabriel Byrne or otherwise. In fact, it's bigger than our project.”

He pointed out that several other well-known Irish-Americans, such as Jean Butler and Fionnula Flanagan, were warmly endorsing The Gathering.

Mr Byrne, who previously served as a cultural ambassador, said many who left Ireland for the US feel abandoned by the Government.

The Dublin native claimed that the bridge between Ireland and its diaspora is broken.

"People are sick to death of being asked to help out in what they regard as a scam," he said.

"I wish The Gathering the very best of luck but they have to understand that the bridge between the diaspora and the people is broken and I tried to fix that for two years and it’s still broken.... Most people don’t give a s**t about the diaspora [in Ireland] except to shake them down for a few quid."

He added: "The diaspora has a very powerful spiritual connection to the island of Ireland.

"I remember when I was growing up in Dublin those buses would pull up and those people in Burberry coats would be laughed at because they’d say 'here come the Yanks looking for their roots’.

"Well, as far as I’m concerned one of the most sacred things you can do is look for your roots."

(H/GK)