The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming In 2013

The year-long event, called "The Gathering", aims to attract 325,000 extra visitors, primarily aimed at those with Irish heritage living around the world.

The initiative coincides with Ireland's presidency of the EU, and with the staging of the Heineken Cup Rugby Final in Dublin in 2013.

But the emphasis will be on encouraging local communities, organizations and even families to put together special events themselves.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar is leading by example - he will be organizing a reunion between his Indian and Irish families who lived abroad.

"It's not just a marketing campaign," he said.

"If it was just that, we would just run ads on TV. It's not that at all.

"It's about getting communities, local authorities and sports clubs and families behind the whole concept, and getting actively involved and inviting people to come, and organizing specific events for that purpose."

Scotland held a similar event in 2009 called the Homecoming.

If the event can meet its targets it could be worth €220m in extra tourism revenue for Ireland.

Ireland has identified tourism as one of its key growth sectors.

The initiative will be officially launched on St Patrick's Day next year, with special promotions and events around the world.

It will include some new festivals, but will mostly tap into existing ones by boosting their profile and encouraging better cross-promotion and link ups.

Former Irish diplomat Dr Tim O'Connor will chair a board being established to oversee the event.

"In order to succeed, the Gathering will be the last word in joined-up thinking. It will require the input of every agency and every parish and its success is ultimately down to us," he said.

Plans for the gathering were unveiled at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin Castle at the weekend.

A number of other initiatives were suggested during the event

100 top ex-pat business leaders from the US have offered to serve for free on Irish State boards over the next five years, sharing their expertise and experience at no cost to taxpayers.

The Irish Technology and Leadership Group will cover key sectors of the economy like science, information technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

A new social networking site, WorldIrish.com, has been set up in a bid to connect millions of Irish people worldwide.

It was created by John McColgan who was behind Riverdance, and has the financial backing of millionaires Denis O'Brien and Dermot Desmond.

Rather than competing with Facebook or Twitter, it aims to bring Irish content from all the popular social media sites to one pooled place.

The website was one of the ideas to emerge from the last forum held in Farmleigh in 2009.

Another idea launched at the Dublin Castle forum last weekend, was a new awards system to recognize the contributions made by Irish diaspora around the world to their home country.

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said it would not be an honors system, but a formal recognition of distinguished service.

"Irish people have rightly taken pride in the achievements of its people abroad - I believe it is now time for the State to reflect this pride by recognizing in a formal way the outstanding contribution of the Irish diaspora," he said.