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About 80 million people around the world can claim some sort of Irish descent from Barack Obama to Muhammad Ali.

And now a tourism campaign, known as the Gathering Ireland, is hoping to encourage those with Irish roots to visit the country.

Over 4,000 Gathering events are running throughout 2013 with events ranging from family Gatherings to a world record attempt for Riverdance line dancing.

But with hopes of tourism being a major component of the Irish economy, some say the Gathering is more of monetary and economic recovery plan rather than a genuine cultural exercise.

Alan Moloney finds out more.