Active Places
12 November 2026
Aviva Stadium
9.30am–4pm
National Conference on Building a more Active Society.
Opened by Minister of State Charlie McConalogue.
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Dublin City Council, in collaboration with IAKS, is hosting – Active Places, Active People, a national conference exploring how we can create more places, communities and environments that enable and encourage people to be more physically active.
The conference will bring together international and national speakers and a broad range of stakeholders from local and national government sport, health, planning, community development, academia and related sectors.
SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE:
Welcome/Opening
Daryl Barron Lord Mayor of Dublin
Keynote Speaker
Minister Charlie McConalogue Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
MORNING THEME: PARTICIPATION
SPEAKERS
ROLE
SUBJECT
Niall Moyna
Professor of Clinical Exercise
Importance of Lifelong Exercise & Movement
Benny Cullen
Director of Research & Innovation Sport Ireland Participation Unit
Participation/Future Trends/Disengagement/Demographics
Ger O’Connor
Director of Coaching & Club Development GAA
Changing Demographics & Future Requirements for Sport
Orla Comerford
Paralympian Medallist
Importance of Sport for All
FIRESIDE PANEL 1
Niall Moyna/Benny Cullen/ Ger O’Connor
Finding the Balance: Team Sports V’s Individual Participation
BREAK
Daniel Lambert
Chief Commercial Officer Bohemians FC
Bohs Foundation: ‘More than a Club’ – Building Communities around a Club
Annette Cleary
DCC Euro 2028 Lead
Event Legacies: Structural, Economic & Social Benefits to Communities
Elaine O’Connor
Ryder Cup Coordinator, Limerick City & Co. Council
Event Legacies: Structural, Economic & Social Benefits to Communities
Dept of Culture, Comm & Sport
Funding for Sports
Community Sports Facilities Fund 2026
FIRESIDE PANEL 2
Daniel Lambert/Annette Cleary/Elaine O’Connor
Clubs & Events: Community Impact
LUNCH, AVIVA TOUR & NETWORKING
LUNCH, AVIVA TOUR & NETWORKING
Networking 12.15pm / Lunch & Aviva Tour 12.30pm
A hot buffet lunch will be served, providing attendees with an opportunity to network.
This will be followed by a tour of the Aviva Stadium.
A hot buffet lunch will be served, providing attendees with an opportunity to network.
This will be followed by a tour of the Aviva Stadium.
AFTERNOON THEME: ACTIVATING SPACES
SPEAKERS
ROLE
SUBJECT
Ola Mattson
IAKS Nordic Board/Development Consultant, Danish Foundation for Culture & Sports Facilities
Designing Sports & Leisure Spaces that Encourage More People to be Active – the Danish approach to planning sports facilities around changing lifestyles and community needs
Rebecca Halstead
Architect, RIBA, Northern Europe Representative RIBA Europe
Creating & planning active spaces for girls
Suzanne O’Connell
DCC Landscape Architect
Cherry Orchard Sports Development – state of the art development, creating an active destination for local communities
Christy O’Shea
Senior Manager, Sports Societies & Student Life
Role of third level institutions in community participation
FIRESIDE PANEL 3
Ola Mattson/Rebecca Halstead/Aisling Cleary/Suzanne O’Connell/Sinéad Gibson/Christy O’Shea
Activating Spaces & Existing Places
Networking & Close
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