Visitor numbers to Ireland increased by 8.8% for the period September to November.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) says the total number of trips to Ireland in the three months was over 1.735 million.

That is over 140 thousand more than the same period in 2012.

The largest increase was visitors from Great Britain at 8.9%. While North American visits to Ireland increased by just under 7%.

In the 3rd quarter trips by Irish residents overseas fell by just under 3%.

Meanwhile 'The Gathering' brought in an extra 275,000 visitors this year generating €170 million for the local economy. The initiative had been roundly criticised, notably by actor Gabriel Byrne, who described it as a 'shakedown'.

The Gathering was launched in 2012 amid great fanfare. The tourism initiative aimed to encourage members of the Diaspora to come home for various gatherings.

Some 5,000 gatherings took place, bringing an extra 275,000 visitors including to areas not typically regarded as tourist destinations.

But it came in for its fair share of criticism, with Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary dismissing it as the 'Grabbing', and actor and Arts Ambassador Gabriel Byrne called it a scam.

With the final figures in it has now been acknowledged as driving growth in the key US market which saw a double-digit increase.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar called it a success but said repeating it would prove difficult.