1. health and fitness

University College Cork (UCC) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
The UCC Department of Epidemiology and Public Health was established in 1997 and in the 17 years since its
inception has grown into an international research centre of excellence in epidemiology, public health, occupational
health and health services research. The Department hosts the HRB Centre for Health and Diet Research which is the
leading centre for public health nutrition on the island of Ireland. The Department hosted the Joint Conference of
the Society for Social Medicine and the International Epidemiological Association in 2007.
HOSTING THE WORLD CONGRESS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY 2020 IN DUBLIN
On behalf of University College Cork, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College
Dublin, School of Public Health, Queens University Belfast, Centre for Public Health and the Local Organising/
Management Executive Committee, I am delighted to present our bid to host the World Congress of
Epidemiology 2020 in Dublin.
Many factors combine to make Dublin the optimal choice for WCE 2020. Cooperation with this bid has been
secured from all six Irish universities with academic Departments of Epidemiology, Public Health and Health
Promotion; plus the North-South (all Ireland) Institute for Public Health, the Health Research Board and major
health research charities (including the Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society), the Irish tourist
boards and airlines. Strong political support has also been assured to us at local and national level and we have
already secured financial support from Failte Ireland and a number of other bodies.
Our location, between Europe and America, and our cultural traditions combine to produce a land that is
accessible, welcoming, and a huge pleasure to visit. Dublin itself is a safe and welcoming city, one of the
friendliest in Europe with a relaxed atmosphere, excellent accessibility from Europe, the US, the Middle East,
Australia and Asia, fantastic conference facilities, an extremely high standard of accommodation across all
categories, a renowned reputation for Irish food and of course an extensive selection of options for delegates
to socialise and network.
Epidemiology has made significant strides in Ireland over the past 20 years. There has been significant capacity
development in epidemiology and public health in academic Departments and other agencies and increased
support for population science research from the Irish government funded Health Research Board (HRB). This
includes investment in structured doctoral and post-doctoral training programmes in population sciences,
Professorial level Research Leader awards, major programme grants, and the establishment of national birth and
ageing cohort studies. In 2020, Ireland will be taking stock of two decades of state funding in Population Sciences
and Health Services Research. What better platform than WCE 2020 to showcase the fruits of such investment?
We expect that for many this will be a first visit to Ireland, while for others it will be an opportunity to return
home. We wish to extend our ‘Cead Mile Failte’, one hundred thousand welcomes to all WCE delegates in 2020.
Prof. Ivan Perry
UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science. (SPHPPS)
UCD SPHPPS is a multidisciplinary school with circa seventy academic staff including 10 professorships and is a
member of ASPHER, the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region. The school hosts the
UCD Institute of Food and Health and the Institute of Sport and Health. In September 2015 the school will host
the Society for Social Medicine meeting, which rotates around universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Queens University Belfast (QUB), Centre for Public Health (CPH)
The Centre for Public Health (CPH) is one of four research centres within the School of Medicine, Dentistry and
Biomedical Sciences. The Centre hosts the Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), one of five
UKCRC public health Centres of Excellence, and the All-Ireland Hub for Trials Methodology Research, one of the
eight Medical Research Council Methodology Hubs.
Congress Theme: “Epidemiology on a shrinking planet: the 2020 perspective”
The health and wellbeing of populations in the 21st century is being increasingly challenged by the emerging
and major threats of scarcity and planetary overload. These are compounded by the interlinked issues of
population growth, greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, poverty, violence, social injustice and system
complexity. In parallel with the problems of scarcity we face challenges linked to the spread of consumerism
worldwide, including global epidemics of obesity, diabetes, non-communicable diseases, addictive behaviours,
loss of wellbeing and poor mental health.
By 2020, the response of the international community to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
will be clear. We will have improved estimates of expected increases in average global temperatures by mid
and end century and more precise estimates of the likely impacts of climate change on food supply, water
resources, infrastructure, ecosystems and health. Ongoing research will provide a better understanding of
the direct and indirect effects on population health of planetary overload and the effects of recession and
macro-economic policy as well as the social and economic burdens of climate change, the costs of mitigation
measures, and the implications of transitioning to a low carbon global economy.
It is now time for epidemiology to rise to these challenges. We need to embrace a whole-system transdisciplinary
perspective, a truly global perspective, capable of addressing the health and wellbeing of the entire
population on our fragile planet and pursuing positive solutions to the crises we face. The health challenges
and opportunities presented by planetary overload and interdependence in the 21st century will form the
over-arching theme for WCE 2020. Major sub-themes will address work on climate change and health, social
injustice, violence and health, the global obesity epidemic and the impacts of macroeconomic policy on health.
PROPOSED MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PROFESSOR IVAN PERRY (CHAIR)
Professor of Public Health, Head of the
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,
University College Cork
PROFESSOR CECILY KELLEHER
Dean of Public Health and Head of the UCD School of
Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science.
PROFESSOR FRANK KEE,
Director of the Centre of Excellence for Public Health
(Northern Ireland)
PROFESSOR PATRICIA KEARNEY
Senior Lecturer and Research Professor,
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,
University College Cork
MR OWEN METCALFE
Chief Executive, Institute of Public Health, Ireland
PROFESSOR GEORGE DAVEY SMITH
Scientific Director, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents
and Children, Director of the Wellcome Trust four year
PhD Prgramme in Lifecourse and Genetic Epidemiology,
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol
DR. GRAHAM LOVE
Dr. Graham Love, Chief Executive of the
Health Research Board, an agency of the Irish
Government’s Department of Health.
PROFESSOR PETER WHINCUP
Professor of Epidemiology, St George’s,
University of London.
PROFESSOR SALIM YUSUF
Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Clinical
Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University
PROFESSOR HARRY RUTTER
Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
England
PROFESSOR SIMON CAPEWELL
Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, University of
Liverpool, and President of the Society of Social
Medicine
PROFESSOR HANNAH MCGEE
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
PROFESSOR ELLA ARENSMAN
Director of Research with the National Suicide Research
Foundation, UCC and President of the International
Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
PROFESSOR HELEN WHELTON
Dean of the School of Dentistry, University of Leeds,
Professor of Dental Public Health and Preventive
Dentistry, University of Leeds. Past President of the
International Association of Dental Research (IADR)
PROFESSOR IAN GRAHAM
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Trinity
College Dublin, Professor Emeritus of Preventive
Cardiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Past chair of the European Society of Cardiology
(ESC) 4th Joint Guidelines on CVD Prevention
in Clinical practice, and the ESC’s European
Prevention Implementation Committee
PROFESSOR RAJ BHOPAL
Professor of Public Health and Honorary Consultant in
Public Health Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
DR ZUBAIR KABIR
Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology, Department of
Epidemiology and Public Health, UCC
PROFESSOR ROBERT CLARKE
Professor Robert Clarke is a Professor of Epidemiology
and Public Health Medicine, University of Oxford
Members of the IEA Council
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
BURSARIES
VENUE
The WCE 2020 scientific programme will support and advance the core mission and objectives of the
International Epidemiological Association with particular reference to promoting the use of epidemiology and
its application to the solution of health problems worldwide working in collaboration with relevant national
and international organisations, encouraging the development and refinement of epidemiological concepts
and methods and promoting the recruitment, education and training of epidemiologists.
We have set a bursary funding target of 50 full bursaries of up to €1200 per bursary and 50 partial bursaries of
up to €500 per bursary. Applications will be evaluated by the Management Executive Committee with particular
emphasis on assisting young epidemiologists from low-income countries to attend WCE 2020. The Management
Executive Committee (MEC) represents key epidemiological and public health institutions in Ireland and the UK
and has already secured some intial bursary commitments. We have also identified a list of additional potential
bursary sponsors for WCE 2020 (please see below)
CITYWEST HOTEL, CONFERENCE AND EVENT CENTRE
Citywest Conference and Event Centre is Ireland’s premier Conference, Incentive and Corporate Event venue
and one of Europe’s most popular International Conference destinations. This 4 star property is situated just 20
km from Dublin Airport and 15 km from the Dublin City centre. Citywest Hotel features conference facilities
for up to 4,000 delegates with 34 meeting rooms, lively bars and restaurants, a superb health & leisure club
and a championship Christy O’Connor Jnr golf course. The Luas light rail link located just 10 minutes from the
hotel reception offers outstanding access to Dublin City centre. We have provisionally held the below space for
August 16th to 20th 2020.
The Management Executive Committee will work with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to refine and
develop the conference theme and sub-themes in consultation with the IEA Council, National Societies and
other stakeholders. Members of the SAC will be chosen to be representative of epidemiology research and
application worldwide in terms of age, gender, geography and specialist interests/ disciplines relevant to
epidemiology and public health. In finalising the scientific programme, including key note addresses, plenary
sessions, symposia and workshops the SAC will seek to achieve the following:
•
coherence in terms of the conference theme and sub-themes,
•
appropriate coverage of major global health issues,
•
a focus on cross-cutting conceptual and methodological issues, which in the context of the conference
theme will include issues such as systems science, complexity theory and big data/ data analytics,
•
issues reflecting achievement and challenges for epidemiology in Ireland that have global resonance.
The conference programme will include workshops focused on the training needs of early and mid- career
epidemiologists, emerging themes in epidemiology education and online learning, including the use of
simulation and gaming technology in teaching core concepts in second level and third level settings and the
ever present challenge of translating research evidence into policy and practice.
There is increasing recognition of the need to engage with the arts and humanities in the promotion of health
and human flourishing and in the development of a deeper understanding of the cultural factors that influence
the framing and cogency of health issues in society. The Scientific Advisory Committee will therefore consider
the inclusion of a workshop or symposium on the arts and humanities in Epidemiology and Public Health.
Irish issues will form only a small component of the overall programme. However, WCE 2020 in Dublin will
provide an opportunity to acknowledge progress, achievements and challenges for Epidemiology in Ireland
in the 21st century. Ireland’s national birth cohort “Growing up in Ireland” and our ageing cohort study “The
Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing” are already highly productive and WCE 2020 will provide an important
opportunity to reflect on the outputs and future prospects for Millennium birth cohorts and ageing cohort
studies worldwide. Ireland is a world leader in tobacco control implementing the first national workplace
smoking ban in 2004 and becoming the first country in Europe to legislate for plain packaging for cigarettes in
2015. However, in common with other developed countries, Ireland has deeply entrenched social inequalities in
health, epidemic levels of overweight and obesity in children and adults and a food sector which has not fully
embraced the challenges of environmental sustainability and the promotion of a healthy diet.
Ireland welcomes the opportunity to host this essential conference, bringing together people from around the
globe to share knowledge and experience that will help us to make the world a healthier home for current and
future generations.
University College Cork
University College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Queen’s University Belfast
National University of Ireland Galway
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
University of Edinburgh
University of Liverpool
Department of Health, Republic of Ireland
Health Research Board
Institute of Public Health in Ireland
National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre
National Suicide Research Foundation
Wellcome Trust
HSC Research & Development
Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety,
Northen Ireland
Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke
British Heart Foundation
Irish Heart Foundation
Irish Cancer Society
Safefood Ireland
Proposed use of venue for WCE 2020:
ALTERNATIVE VENUE: THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY (RDS)
ROOM
CAPACITY
COST
Sycamore Suite
800* Theatre Syle
€7,700 per day
Parallel 1
Ballroom
200 Theatre Style
€550 per day
Parallel 2
Kingswood
200 Theatre Style
€550 per day
Main Plenary
Parallel 3
Verschoyle
200 Theatre Style
€550 per day
Parallel 4
Newcastle
200 Theatre Style
€550 per day
Parallel 5
Conservatory
200 Theatre Style
€550 per day
Parallel 6
Sycamore Suite
800 Theatre Style
Included above
Posters and Exhibitiions
Lakes Suite
€4,400 per day
*Please note there are other larger capacity rooms available in Citywest if required
We also intend to implement the innovative concept of ‘crowdfunding’ in order to assist us achieve our bursary
target. This would involve contacting, either via the Congress website or by email, practicing epidemiologists in
Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and worldwide asking them to support the attendance of young epidemiologists
from low income countries at WCE 2020. This would contribute to the development and recognition of their
own discipline on an international scale. We would request a once off contribution per person of anywhere
between €20 - €50 and acknowledge all donors on the Congress website and onsite at the Congress itself. We
are confident that through the implementation of a cohesive fundraising strategy and the leveraging of our
extensive network, we can achieve our bursary target.
CITYWEST HOTEL, CONFERENCE AND EVENT CENTRE
CONFERENCE EVENT MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR
The RDS is Ireland’s premier venue for conferences, offering a superb
location and a setting with magnificent heritage. Situated in leafy south
Dublin with easy access to the city centre, the impressive venue offers a
42 acre complex with over 23,000m² of versatile space. The Society has
10 multi-purpose conference and exhibition halls, an outdoor stadium,
several concert venues, meeting rooms, bars, restaurants and over 2,000
car parking spaces.
Recently, a complete aesthetic and technical refurbishment of the RDS
Concert Hall has been completed. The aesthetic refurbishment includes
a completely new seating rig, floor resurfacing and polish, new lighting
and updated interior decor for the entire Hall. On the technical side a
comprehensive new Audio Visual system has been installed, which
includes state of the art sound and video equipment.
RDS DUBLIN
We would be delighted to invite two members of the IEA Council to view
both venues to determine which would be the optimal solution for WCE
2020.
PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANISER: CONFERENCE PARTNERS LTD.
Established in 1998, Conference Partners is a full service, multi award winning and internationally accredited Professional Conference Organiser (PCO), headquartered in Dublin, with offices in the UK, and
operating globally. They have earned a reputation for excellence and as a result, they have an extensive portfolio of international association conferences for world-renowned organisations. Having worked
in diverse markets across the globe, from Brussels to Sydney and San Francisco to Hong Kong, Conference Partners brings a wealth of knowledge that includes both the cultural and procedural necessities
warranted for each new project.
Their goal focused approach and proven track record stands testament to their ability to comprehensively
understand their clients’ needs and in turn provide the optimum solutions for the smooth running of their
conference or event. Open communication, strong relationships, reporting and on-going engagement
between the Conference Partners team and stakeholders is paramount to the success of each event they
undertake. “Enhance your reputation by depending on ours” is the company motto and they continue
to maintain and uphold this belief by providing a world class service to their clients. Building upon your
vision and requirements, they LISTEN, CREATE, and DELIVER, each and every time.
Project Management Fee
10% on all third party expenditure
Online Registration Administration Fee
€35 per delegate
On-Site Staff
Senior Project Manager
€325 per person, per day
Delegate Service’s and Registration
€295 per person, per day
ACCOMMODATION
REGISTRATION FEE
MOST
ACCESS
EXPENSIVE
Dublin boasts world class hotels providing top quality accommodation. The capital offers over 160 hotels with
just over 18,000 beds, all approved by Fáilte Ireland – the National Tourism Development Authority. Hotels range
in price from the luxury five star experience to more affordable budget accommodation.
The proposed conference venue, Citywest Hotel, Conference and Events Centre, has 764 rooms and its sister
hotel, Maldron Hotel Citywest, offers three star accommodation, just a five minute drive away. There is also a
courtesy shuttle bus available between Citywest Hotel and Maldron Hotel which delegates can avail of.
Furthermore as Citywest Hotel is connected to the city centre via the Luas line (Saggart stop), delegates can
also choose from the array of city centre accommodation available across a wide range of price categories. It is
a short tram journey in to the city centre, with several hotels located along the Luas line itself.
As previously mentioned, we are proposing a second option for the conference venue, the Royal Dublin Society
(RDS). There are several 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, as well as a number of guesthouses, situated within walking
distance of the RDS, with over 2,300 bedrooms available in this leafy suburb of Dublin.
The following are simply a sample of the wide variety of accommodation options available. The rates provided
are based on 2015 rates and these rates would generally increase with inflation at approximately 5% per year. In
recent years, however, because of the economic environment, we have seen hotel rates actually reduce.
Furthermore, the Professional Conference Organiser, Conference Partners, has an established relationship with
many hotels in Dublin and is in a strong position to negotiate the best rates available on behalf of WCE 2020
delegates.
Dublin is ranked by Mercer 2014 as one of the world’s least expensive
cities and better value than most of its main European counterparts
so we can offer WCE 2020 excellent value for money.
Based on an attendance of 1000 delegates with complimentary
registrations, flights and accommodation for 20 invited speakers
and projected funding for 50 full bursaries and 50 partial bursaries,
we have set the WCE 2020 Registration Fees as follows;
Registration Category
IEA Member Early
IEA Member Late
IEA Member Onsite
Non Member Early
Non Member Late
Non Member Onsite
Student Member
Student Non Member
Congress Party
These fees represent an approximate 10% increase on the WCE 2011
Edinburgh fees which we believe is a reasonable increase over a
period of nine years for a European destination and are less than
the WCE 2014 fees. The Registration Fee for pre-registered delegates
includes:
•
•
•
•
•
CITYWEST HOTEL &
MALDRON CITYWEST
CITY CENTRE
HOTELS
NEAR THE
RDS
3***
€99
€140
€125
4****
€140
€180
€159
5*****
N/A
€300
€270
Registration Fee
€455
€595
€675
€530
€690
€770
€245
€330
€45
Attendance of all scientific sessions and entry
to the exhibition hall
Delegate bag and meeting material
Morning and afternoon refreshment breaks and lunch
Attendance at the Welcome Reception (pre-registration
compulsory)
The non-member rates includes one year’s membership to
IEA for 2020 at no additional charge
Registration does not include the Congress Party.
Tickets can be purchased for a fee
of €45 per delegate subject to availability.
1st
Tokyo
4th
Moscow
5
Geneva
6th
Zurich
th
11th Sydney
15th Melbourne
16th Shanghai
Ireland, ideally located on the edge of Europe, is less than an hour from London, less than two hours from Paris or Brussels, five hours from the east coast of the US and six hours
from Dubai by air.
DUBLIN AIRPORT
Dublin Airport is one of Europe’s busiest airports, with 57 airlines flying to over 175 destinations. Dublin Airport now offers services to over 30 airports in the UK and the ever
expanding European network – now more than 100 airports. Etihad, Emirates and United Airlines opened new routes in the last two years so with the emergence of low cost
air-travel along with traditional international carriers it has never been easier or less expensive to travel to Dublin. Dublin Airport manages an average of 60,000 passengers per
day, rising to 80,000 during the peak season, with more than 600 aircraft movements every day.
17th Beijing
18th Oslo
21
st
Copenhagen
25th London
33rd New York City
37th Paris
38th Milan
SOME FACTS ABOUT DUBLIN AIRPORT
• Dublin Airport is located 12km north of Dublin city centre. Dublin Port Tunnel cuts journey time from the airport to the city centre to 12-15 minutes.
• Private/public bus services that operate from the airport: Aircoach from €8 one way, Airlink from €6 one way
• Taxis are readily available for hire outside the airport. A taxi journey from the airport into the city centre should cost approximately €25 and from the airport to Citywest Hotel
should cost approximately €50. The LUAS Light rail network stops adjacent to the gates of Citywest Hotel, exit at the stop marked Saggart, and a one way ticket costs €2.60.
Dublin Bus route #69 serves Citywest Hotel from the city centre approximately every 15 minutes and a one way ticket costs €3.30
• Most international car rental companies also have representation in the airport terminal.
39th Lagos
42nd Rome
46th Stockholm
DUBLIN FERRY PORT
Even though Ireland is an island, access is easy by air or sea. Dublin Port is very centrally located, only minutes from Dublin city centre. There are excellent ferry connections daily
from the UK and mainland Europe.
48th Vienna
57th Amsterdam
61st Toronto
71st Brussels
72nd Dublin
LEAST
EXPENSIVE
Dublin is ranked by Mercer as one of the
world’s least expensive cities and better value
than most of its main European counterparts
GETTING AROUND DUBLIN CITY
Dublin city is small, compact and easily ‘walkable’.
Buses: Dublin Bus operates the city’s bus routes running from 06:00-23:30.
Train: DART, Suburban and Intercity Trains.
LUAS: State-of-the-art Light Rail Transit System.
A universal public-transport access card is
available allowing delegate’s access to all parts
of the city by bus, DART or Luas.
DUBLIN BIKES: Dublin bikes is a self-service
bike rental system open to everyone from
14 years of age. With 40 stations and 450 DB’s
(bikes), it enables you to travel through the city
centre, and get out and about to enjoy Dublin
city at your leisure.
TAXIS: There are almost 10,000 taxis in Dublin.
ENTRY (VISA) REQUIREMENTS
All visa applications are now made on-line using
the AVATS on-line facility. www.dfa.ie Citizens
of certain countries require a visa to travel to
Ireland. Applicants should note that all non-EU
citizens, whether a visa is required or not, will be
subject to ordinary immigration controls at the
port of entry. Visas are not currently required by
EU Nationals, EFTA Nationals or USA, Canadian or
Australian nationals, visitors are required to have
a valid passport. Information on nationalities
requiring a VISA may be obtained from any Irish
Embassy or Irish Tourist Office. Our PCO is happy
to assist delegates with their visa applications.
DUBLIN AS A CONFERENCE DESTINATION
Dublin is an exciting and inspirational city eager to extend a warm welcome to business tourists from across the
globe. World-renowned for our warm welcome and genuine sense of fun, the Irish people’s enviable passion
for life promises to entice colleagues and peers from around the globe, guaranteeing high attendance at any
international event.
Scoring high on essential criteria such as suitability, accessibility, security, facilities and service, Dublin delivers in
its own inimitable way, a truly unique capital that’s steeped in tradition yet young at heart. In the historic, compact
city centre there is lots to do and see, and visitors will love the rich selection of galleries, national museums which
have free entry, restaurants, pubs and shops, not to mention the traditionally warm welcome from Dubliners.
EXPLORING DUBLIN
The Dublin Pass offers free transport from the airport to the city and free entry to over 30 of Dublin’s top attractions
and special offers in over 25 of Dublin’s top shops, restaurants, tours and entertainment venues. The Dublin Pass
will be available to conference delegates at a special discounted rate.
SUGGESTED WCE 2020 TOURS INCLUDE:
Literary Walking Tour
Here is an opportunity to discover Medieval and Georgian Dublin through the eyes of a famous Dublin street poet
who will bring to life Dublin’s writers and walk the very paths that inspired our luminary writers like Swift, Yeats,
Joyce, Wilde and Beckett. This performance tour takes you to Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church
and Trinity College.
Sight Jogging Tour of Dublin
Sight Jogging Dublin is an alternative and fun way to discover the city. A local jogging guide will take delegates
through the city’s liveliest quarters and finest squares while pointing out Ireland’s most important landmarks such
as St Patricks Cathedral, Trinity College, Dublin Castle and more.
The Rebellion Walking Tour
This is an excellent opportunity to discover the city in a very unique way. The tour will be led by Lorcan Collins,
author of the Easter Rising published in 2000 and James Connolly (2012) and founder of the 1916 Rebellion
Walking.
Fabulous Food Trail
Delegates visit a range of bakeries, food halls, street markets, cheesemongers, delicatessens and other speciality
shops on this award winning Dublin walking tour. Delegates will meet artisans whose families have traded for
generations producing great food as well as new arrivals to the food scene bringing new international tastes and
food ideas to the Irish table and of course get to sample the culinery delights on offer.
Gaelic Games Experience
Take part in Ireland’s unique national games of Hurling and Gaelic Football. Steeped in history these games offer
all the elements which make a great team event: fun, co-ordination, skill and camaraderie.
Hurling is one of the world’s oldest field sports and has been played in some form in Ireland for over 800 years.
Played with a Hurl (stick) and a Sliotar (ball) you will learn the skills needed to lift and hit the ball in a fun and
entertaining way. Gaelic Football is a fast paced game requiring skill, speed, intelligence, strength and passion.
It’s a tough sport played at a furious pace in which the ball can be kicked or punched, in an effort to get it into or
over the opposing team’s goal. With our fun experienced coaching we teach you the skills you need for this game.
For delegates who like to explore on their own, there’s plenty to see and do:
• Visit some of Dublin’s most historic sights, including Trinity College, the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, Dublinia,
Christ Church Cathedral, the Dublin Writers Museum and the Old Jameson Distillery to name but a few.
• Enjoy the delights of shopping around the designer stores on Grafton Street and The Powerscourt Townhouse.
• Golf at the K Club, home of the Ryder Cup 2006.
• Savour a pint of the black stuff while enjoying 360 degree views of the city in the Gravity Bar in the Guinness
Storehouse.
• Enjoy a day of being pampered at one of Dublin’s top Spas.
• Enjoy a day’s sailing experience on a tall ship or speed around Dublin bay in high speed ribs.
• Enjoy foot tapping, hand clapping traditional Irish music and dance at Johnnie Fox’s pub, the Merry Ploughboy,
the Abbey Tavern and Taylors Three Rock Pub.
A selection of Post Conference Tours exploring Ireland
Pre and post conference tours can be offered to WCE 2020 delegates. These will be run based on minimum
numbers. We would suggest 3, 4 and 5 day tours to some of Ireland’s most beautiful and intriguing places such as
Dromoland Castle, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the famed Ring of Kerry and the breathtaking Giant’s Causeway.