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Creating legacy impact: Ireland’ s business events driving global change
I reland 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 legacydriven 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, support 22,000 jobs with delegates spending significantly more than leisure tourists, driving midweek and off-season activity, 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
Left: Failte Ireland ambassadors bringing in the business 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.
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.
Perhaps the most profound legacy came from WONCA 2022. 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
24 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 138