National Conference on Building

a more Active Society.

Creating environments and

communities to enable

encourage

people to be more active

Active Places, Active People

National Conference on Building a More Active Society

Dublin City Council, in collaboration with IAKS, is hosting Active Places, Active People — a national conference exploring how we can create more active places, communities and environments that enable and encourage people to be more physically active.

Taking place at the Aviva Stadium on 12 November 2026, the conference will bring together international and national speakers, alongside stakeholders from local and national government, sport, health, planning, community development, academia and related sectors.

The event will open with a welcome from Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daryl Barron, followed by a keynote address from Minister of State Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

The morning theme of Participation will explore lifelong exercise and movement, future participation trends, changing demographics and the importance of sport for all.

Among the speakers is Professor Niall Moyna, Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at Dublin City University, whose work focuses on the role of exercise in preventing and treating chronic disease. Orla Comerford, Paralympic medallist and Raheny Shamrocks athlete, will share her perspective on the importance of sport for all, following her bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and double gold at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.

The programme will also feature Benny Cullen, Director of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland, and Ger O’Connor, Director of Coaching and Club Development with Dublin GAA, bringing perspectives on participation, future trends, coaching and the changing needs of communities.

The afternoon theme, Activating Spaces, will look at how we can make better use of the places and facilities around us. Ola Mattson, IAKS Nordic Board member and Development Consultant with the Danish Foundation for Culture & Sports Facilities, will explore the Danish approach to designing sports and leisure spaces around changing lifestyles and community needs.

Rebecca Halstead, Architect, RIBA and Northern Europe Representative for RIBA Europe, will focus on creating and planning active spaces for girls, looking at how the design of our public spaces can support greater participation.

Across the day, fireside panel discussions will bring speakers together to explore the issues from different perspectives, from team and individual participation to the community impact of clubs and major events, and how we can activate existing spaces and places.

The full-day programme includes networking, lunch and a unique tour of the Aviva Stadium, providing an opportunity to connect, share ideas and explore new partnerships.

Date: 12 November 2026

Time: 9.30am–4pm

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Join us for a day of ideas, discussion and practical thinking on how we can build a more active society.

Description supplied by the event organiser.