National Outdoor Recreation Conference 2024

National Outdoor Recreation Conference

The first annual National Outdoor Recreation Conference is being hosted by Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and Comhairle na Tuaithe to support the delivery of Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors Ireland's National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027.

Join us in Sligo on Thursday 27th June for a one day conference celebrating all things outdoor recreation. Network with national and county organisations involved in outdoor recreation, join in the discussion on national outdoor recreation policy and hear about the latest developments in the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland. Don't miss out on this opportunity to network with other organisations and gain valuable insights to enhance your work in developing or promoting outdoor recreation.

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors Ireland's National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, was developed in collaboration with Comhairle na Tuaithe (the Countryside Council) and is a collaborative cross-Government, stakeholder-led strategy. It reflects the views of stakeholders, the public and the whole of Government and it sets the stage to strengthen and support the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland for years to come.

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors will ensure that there is a joined up and coordinated approach to deliver maximum impact from the significant investment in the sector and to build on the natural advantages in place. The Strategy also aims to increase the number of people active in the outdoors, especially young people and under-represented groups, and to foster a greater understanding of how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

Better planning and development of outdoor recreation infrastructure will be embedded through the Strategy implementation. This will lead to enhanced protection of the environment and will be in keeping with best practice management of landscape and habitats.

The implementation of Embracing Ireland's Outdoors is being led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Sport Ireland and progress is overseen by Comhairle na Tuaithe.

For more information on Comhairle na Tuaithe please go to gov.ie

Registration and networking from 9.30am.

Morning Session (10am-1pm)

MC Ella McSweeney will open the conference at 10am with welcome from Minister Heather Humphreys, Dr. Liam Twomey Chair of Comhairle na Tuaithe and a member of Sligo County Council.

Presentation on Embracing Ireland's Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027 by JP Mulherin, Principal Officer, Department of Rural and Community Development.

Panel Discussion: 'Leadership and collaboration at County Level’ followed by Q&A

Networking Tea Break

Presentation on 'Towards Healing Croagh Patrick' by Martin Keating, Chair of Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group

Panel Discussion: 'Protecting the environment through better planning and development of outdoor recreation’ followed by Q&A

Networking Lunch (1pm-2pm

Afternoon Session (2pm-4.30pm)

Breakout sessions to discuss various outdoor recreation topics

Guest speaker: Nikki Bradley, adaptive adventurer and one of Ireland’s leading female motivational speakers

Quick fire presentations and panel discussion: 'Increasing and supporting the number of people active in the outdoors, especially young people and under-represented groups' followed by Q&A

Closing address, tbc