An Tóstal is a festival that was organised around the concept of The Gathering. When it started 60 years ago, and the idea was to extend our tourist season and attract overseas visitors to our shores. Much the same idea as The Gathering 2013. In 1953 post-war Europe, the dollar was the only currency that counted, and all European countries needed dollars to buy necessary goods. There was a European-wide US programme to promote visits to Europe by American tourists. The idea was dreamed up by Pan American Airlines and their interest was firstly in generating business, but also in ...