Ireland wants association congresses to leave more behind than delegate spend. Ciara Gallagher, manager – business events at Fáilte Ireland, speaks to CMW’s Iain Stirling and talks ambassadors, legacy, sustainability and why confirmed business is running well ahead of last year.
Iain Stirling – Association conferences have long been a priority for Fáilte Ireland. What makes this segment so valuable to Ireland compared with corporate or incentive business?
Ciara Gallagher – Association conferences are strategically important because they deliver value far beyond the immediate economic impact of delegate spend. They bring leading researchers, clinicians, academics and industry experts to Ireland. That creates opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovation.
Last year alone, we supported 200 conferences, which brought 68,000 international sector leaders to our shores and generated almost €130m in economic value. In many cases, these events support Ireland’s broader economic and social ambitions by connecting international expertise with our indigenous and multinational sectors.
Association conferences continue to drive the majority of economic value. This reflects Ireland’s strength in hosting large-scale, knowledge-led international events.
IS – Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Programme relies heavily on local academics and professionals bidding for their international associations. How important is that network to your success, and how are you supporting ambassadors to win more business?
CG – The Conference Ambassador Programme is one of Ireland’s greatest strengths in the international meetings market. Since 2009, Fáilte Ireland has supported more than 3,000 conference ambassadors to bid to host their international conference in Ireland.
Our ambassadors are the reason many of Ireland’s most prestigious conferences come here. They are internationally respected experts, and passionate advocates for both their profession and Ireland as a destination.
Working closely with our convention bureaux and industry partners, Fáilte Ireland provides ambassadors with practical and financial support throughout the bidding process. This includes bid development, venue and destination expertise, economic and legacy impact data, site inspections and access to funding supports where appropriate.
Increasingly, we are also helping ambassadors articulate the legacy outcomes their event could achieve in Ireland. This has become a key consideration for many associations.
“Our ambassadors are the reason many of Ireland’s most prestigious conferences come here”
IS – Which sectors are you targeting most actively for association events, and how do they align with Ireland’s national strengths in areas such as life sciences, technology and education?
CG – Our strategy is closely aligned with Ireland’s areas of recognised excellence. We focus particularly on life sciences, healthcare, technology, ICT, engineering, financial services, sustainability, agri-food and education.
These sectors mirror Ireland’s strong research capabilities, internationally ranked universities and thriving innovation ecosystem. By targeting conferences that align with these strengths, we can offer associations access to world-leading experts, research centres and industry leaders. It also ensures strong local delegate attendance, as well as access to speakers and sponsors.
This alignment creates stronger opportunities for meaningful legacy outcomes too, whether through research collaboration, skills development or international partnerships.
L-R: Malcolm Clancy (the RDS Dublin), Sam Johnston (Dublin Convention Bureau), Fiona Ferris (AsIAm – Ireland’s Autism Charity), Adam Harris (AsIAm), Niamh Mellerick (AsIAm), Ciara Gallagher (Fáilte Ireland), Juliet Dillon (Fáilte Ireland)
IS – The conversation around business events has moved beyond economic impact to legacy. What does a successful legacy look like for Fáilte Ireland, and can you share a recent example of an association event that delivered one?
CG – For Fáilte Ireland, legacy is about the lasting positive impact an event leaves behind for a destination, a sector or a community. Economic impact remains important, but we increasingly look at how conferences contribute to knowledge transfer, professional development, research collaboration, policy advancement and societal outcomes.
A successful legacy might involve new international research partnerships, enhanced professional education opportunities, improved healthcare practices or increased visibility for Ireland’s expertise in a particular field. We regularly see conferences creating networks and collaborations that continue long after delegates have returned home. Those enduring connections are often the most valuable outcomes of all.
Ireland has been recognised on the global stage for its work with conference ambassadors and international associations to build intentional impact programmes into their conference plans. In 2025, Professor Liam Glynn received the ICCA and BestCities Incredible Impacts Award for the social impact achieved through the programme around WONCA’s World Rural Health Conference, hosted in Limerick in 2022. More recently, the 14th Autism-Europe International Congress in Dublin won the Impact Event Award at the PCMA Convene4Climate Global Awards 2026.
IS – Why is sustainability so crucial for Fáilte Ireland’s business events strategy, and how is it influencing the way associations choose destinations?
CG – Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a fundamental expectation among meeting organisers, delegates and association boards. Many international associations now have formal sustainability policies and actively assess destinations against environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
Ireland is well positioned to respond to this demand. Sustainability is embedded within Fáilte Ireland’s broader tourism strategy, and we are supporting the industry to reduce its environmental impact while enhancing the overall visitor experience. For associations, choosing a destination that can demonstrate genuine commitment, measurable action and credible sustainability credentials has become increasingly important in site selection.
Ireland wants to make it easier for associations to deliver sustainable events. We offer a Green Toolkit for Business Events and a Carbon Calculator that measures carbon emissions per delegate. We also support our business events suppliers to reduce their emissions through a Climate Action Programme.
“Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a fundamental expectation”
IS – What practical support can planners expect from Fáilte Ireland and the convention bureaux to deliver lower-impact events in Ireland?
CG – Planners can access a wide range of practical supports through Fáilte Ireland and our convention bureaux network. This includes guidance on sustainable venue selection, local supply chains, transport options, delegate engagement initiatives and legacy planning.
We are also encouraging a more holistic approach to sustainability, looking beyond carbon considerations to include social and community impact. Ireland’s relatively compact geography, strong regional connectivity and growing number of certified venues and suppliers give planners practical options for creating more responsible events, without compromising the delegate experience.
We also reward organisers who deliver sustainable events through an upweighted subvention scheme, which recognises those who use the Fáilte Ireland Green Toolkit and Carbon Calculator.
IS – It’s been a year of disruption for international travel and events. How has 2026 been for business events in Ireland, and what lessons has the team learned about resilience?
CG – The global events sector continues to operate amid economic uncertainty and evolving travel patterns, but Ireland’s business events industry has shown remarkable resilience. Demand for face-to-face engagement remains strong because people recognise the value of in-person networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing.
One of the key lessons from recent years is the importance of adaptability and partnership. Close collaboration between Fáilte Ireland, convention bureaux, venues, hotels and professional conference organisers (PCOs) has kept Ireland competitive and responsive to changing market conditions. Agility, flexibility and strong stakeholder relationships will remain critical to future success.
We monitor performance very closely. New opportunities identified for the pipeline are on a par with 2025, but we are significantly ahead of this time last year in terms of events confirmed for current and future years.
“We are significantly ahead of this time last year in terms of events confirmed”
IS – Has Ireland benefited from planners rethinking their destination choices – for example because of perceptions of safety, stability, accessibility or English-language convenience?
CG – Ireland’s reputation as a welcoming, safe and accessible destination remains a significant advantage. For international associations, particularly those bringing delegates from multiple markets, ease of communication and a strong delegate experience are important considerations.
Ireland also offers a compelling combination of world-class conference infrastructure, internationally recognised expertise across key sectors and an authentic cultural experience. Increasingly, organisers are looking for destinations where delegates can connect professionally while also experiencing something distinctive and memorable. Ireland continues to perform strongly in that regard.
Convention Centre Dublin (CCD)
IS – Looking ahead, where do you see the biggest growth opportunities for Ireland – both for Dublin and for regional destinations such as Cork, Galway, Kerry and Shannon?
CG – Business Events 2030 has set ambitious growth targets of 8% per annum. Dublin will continue to play a leading role, given its scale, international connectivity and concentration of academic and industry expertise. However, we see significant growth opportunities across the regions, and have set higher growth targets there as a result.
Cork, Galway, Kerry and Shannon each offer distinct strengths, whether in research excellence, industry clusters, coastal sustainability initiatives or unique delegate experiences. Increasingly, associations are seeking destinations that combine strong conference facilities with authentic local experiences. Regional Ireland is exceptionally well placed to meet that demand, while supporting balanced tourism growth across the country.
IS – If you could give one message to an association executive considering Ireland for a future congress, what would it be?
CG – Ireland offers much more than an event venue. When an association chooses Ireland, it gains access to a collaborative ecosystem of academic leaders, industry experts, convention bureaux, venues and government-supported partners, all committed to helping deliver an exceptional congress.
Our message is simple: Ireland Goes Beyond! If you bring your congress to Ireland, we will work with you to create not only a successful event, but one that leaves a meaningful and lasting legacy for your delegates, your organisation and the sectors you serve.
