Ireland has become a beacon for international association conferences that do more than convene experts – they catalyse change, drive innovation, and leave lasting legacies. In recent years, the country has hosted a series of high-impact conferences that exemplify how business events are strategic instruments for progress and can contribute meaningfully to society, the economy, and the environment.
Three major conferences, the International Geographical Congress (IGC) 2024, European Solid Mechanics Conference (ESMC) 2022, and the World Rural Health Conference (WONCA) 2022, highlight Ireland’s growing reputation for legacy-driven events. Each advanced global collaboration, supported national priorities, and left lasting economic and reputational benefits.
Economic impact meets strategic vision
These three association conferences drew over 4,500 delegates to Ireland and generated almost €9m in direct economic impact. Business events contribute over €1bn annually to the Irish economy, supporting 22,000 jobs with delegates spending significantly more than leisure tourists, driving midweek and off-season activity, and supporting regional economies and SMEs across hospitality, transport, AV, and catering sectors.
Business Events 2030, Ireland’s new business events strategy, outlines ambitions to grow the value of business events by 8% annually, generate €700m in new opportunities each year, and deliver 16,000 B2B appointments to showcase Ireland’s strengths. These goals are not aspirational – they are being realised through events like IGC, ESMC, and WONCA, which exemplify the kind of conferences that align with Ireland’s national priorities and global ambitions.
Events that shape policy, research and communities
Beyond economic metrics, the true legacy of these events lies in their ability to influence research, policy, and community development.
IGC 2024 was a landmark event for interdisciplinary collaboration, with over 2,500 talks and 400 poster presentations. Delegates from 74 countries engaged in dialogue that extended beyond academia, thanks to a robust Public Engagement Programme that included initiatives like the City Climate Walk and Mapping Ireland Through Time. These activities brought geographic thinking into the public domain, fostering civic awareness and educational outreach.
International Gynecologic Cancer Society meeting in Dublin
ESMC 2022, hosted by the University of Galway, brought together leading scientists and engineers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements and future directions in the field of solid mechanics. The conference featured themes such as Mechanics of Materials, Biomechanics and Continuum Mechanics, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the field and sparking in-depth discussions. It introduced the Women in STEM Conference Support Awards, enabling 30 young female researchers from 12 countries to attend, and ensured gender balance in panel discussions and award committees. With 36% of delegates being students, the event prioritised mentorship and awarded four Young Researcher Awards promoting diversity and inclusion.
WONCA 2022 may have left the most profound legacy. Hosted by the University of Limerick, the event led to the establishment of Ireland’s first ICGP National Standing Committee for Rural General Practice, the appointment of the first ever Professor of Rural General Practice at the University of Limerick, and the creation of a Rural Teaching Hub at University of Limerick’s School of Medicine, allowing students to spend 25% of their clinical training in rural communities. A novel Rural GP Fellowship Programme was created, supported by a €1.4m investment from the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the publication of the ‘Limerick Declaration on Rural Healthcare’ provided a blueprint for improving high-quality healthcare in rural and remote areas nationally and internationally.
WONCA 2022 demonstrated how a conference can directly influence national policy, empower communities, and reshape the future of healthcare delivery. These events exemplify the iceberg analogy referenced in the Business Events 2030 strategy: while the visible tip represents immediate tourism revenue, the deeper impact lies in knowledge transfer, policy influence, and societal transformation.
Sustainability and legacy as core principles
Ireland’s commitment to sustainability is embedded in its new business events strategy.
IGC 2024 was hosted in Dublin City University which is part of Dublin City Council’s de-carbonising zone and raised funds through an optional environmental levy to support carbon insetting projects on university campuses in Ireland as a legacy project. It featured a hybrid format with the Royal Geographical Society in London, expanding reach of the congress with no additional carbon impact. The event eliminated paper waste through digital access and used sustainable materials for badges and lanyards. Water refill stations and vegetarian menu options as standard further reinforced its sustainable credentials.
Dublin City University’s Polaris building and events venue. (Photo courtesy
of Failte Ireland)
ESMC 2022 adopted a paperless format and avoided plastic containers. These practices reflect the goals of the Business Events 2030 strategy, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. The strategy encourages the use of sustainability toolkits, green grants, and collaborative carbon impact management to ensure that business events contribute positively to Ireland’s environmental goals.
WONCA 2022 also embraced sustainability and inclusion as core principles. From its planning to execution, the event prioritised community engagement and long-term impact. It demonstrated how events can be designed to maximise social value.
Ireland’s approach to legacy is not an afterthought – it is a guiding principle. The Business Events 2030 strategy calls for intentional impact across economic, social, and environmental pillars, and these events are living proof of that vision in action.
Ireland’s blueprint for global leadership in business events
Ireland’s success in hosting impactful association conferences is underpinned by a collaborative ecosystem involving universities, local councils, national tourism bodies, and global associations. Organisations like Fáilte Ireland play a pivotal role in enabling conference ambassadors, facilitating logistics, and ensuring strategic alignment with national goals.
Recognition of these achievements came through Fáilte Ireland’s biannual Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards, where Professor Peter McHugh (ESMC) was named Conference Ambassador of the Year 2023, and Professor Liam Glynn (WONCA) won the award for Social Impact and Legacy recognising the conference’s transformative impact on rural healthcare.
As Niamh Moore Cherry, chair of The International Geographical Congress 2024, aptly stated:
“A powerful legacy of this event would be to take the networking and dialogue that has begun this week and build on it in the coming months and years… to use our networks for good, in the service of our discipline but also our society and planet.”
This ethos captures the essence of Ireland’s approach to international association conferences – not as isolated gatherings, but as springboards for enduring impact. For associations seeking to create meaningful legacy, Ireland offers not only world-class venues and hospitality, but a collaborative ecosystem committed to making every event a force for good.
