At the Cavan Gathering launch (from left) were: Paddy Connaughton, coordinator, Gathering Team; Ger Finn; Marion Smith, Tourism Officer; Jack Keyes, chairman of the Steering Committee; Imelda Rey, The Gathering Team and Martin Donohoe, Comhaltas. Photos: Adrian Donohoe

Re-establishing the Cavan Song Contest, medieval banquets, a Music Alive festival and international world cup tag rugby are among the suggestions for events as part of the 'Gathering' initiative in Cavan next year.

As the need to find something to replace the revenue and spirit that will be lost from the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil moving elsewhere next year, interested parties came together at a public meeting last week for a brain storming session to ensure that Cavan takes centre stage as part of Fáilte Ireland's 'Gathering' initiative in 2013.

A large representative audience from all over the county attended the meeting in the Hotel Kilmore for the meeting, which was organised by the Gathering steering committee, co-ordinated by Paddy Connaughton and chaired by County Manager, Jack Keyes.

Mr Connaughton told The Anglo-Celt this week that they are going through all the suggestions and will be contacting the people shortly who attended the meeting with a view to moving the ideas forward.

He said the idea is to build on the momentum established by the Fleadh. "The name of Cavan is now out there as a destination and it is about building on that," he said.

Mr Connaughton said that Cavan IFA, GAA, ICA, County Cavan VEC and Cavan/Monaghan LEADER are all on board.

The list of suggestions includes initiatives such as the Kingdom of Breffni Festival, Cavan Clans Harvest Festival/Clan Gatherings, Home to You re-enactment of U2's gig in the Lavey Inn, angling - father/son or daughter competition, international world cup in tag rugby, Discover Cavan again, Music Alive festival, Ulster Fleadh, Blessing of graves, Fly to fish/angling and dangling, carnivals, GAA club reunions, walking and heritage festival, world choir festival, local festivals and fair days, Cavan Associations convention, festival of twin towns, General Sheridan summer school, Rediscover your Cavan roots, street and parish reunions, International Cavan Song contest, Killykeen adventure week, Cavan writer's week, Route 66 Cavan/Kerry Polo Grounds replay, Medieval banquet, multi-cultural festival, food festival, international boxing tournament, Lady of the Erne, uncovering 6,000 years of history, international golf competition, celebrating Cavan entrepreneurs, international quilting and storytelling festival and international geology conference.