The whole world loves the Irish. How could anyone not? No other country is as stereotypically drunk, fun and friendly. Maybe that's why we take St. Patrick's Day so seriously in Canada. But how do Canada's festivities hold up to the main event in the founding nation?

2013 in Ireland will be different -- the gloom is replaced with optimism. This year all of those who left, all who claim Irish ancestry and all who love Irish culture have been invited back for The Gathering -- the world's ultimate homecoming, running from Galway to Dublin, Cork to Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The Gathering is not an event. It's a year-long series of events and happenings developed by the Irish government.

Couples seeking out their next romantic overseas getaway may want to consider Dublin after watching this stunning time-lapse video. It was shot...