Local Social Programme
Cead Mile Fáilte to Dublin
It is a great honour to welcome you all to Dublin for what promises to be an exciting and informative conference and hopefully your travel schedule will allow for some time to enjoy the many attractions of Dublin and Ireland.
Ireland is the westernmost island in Europe, in its entirety covers 84,431 square kilometers (32,599 square miles), and is about 280 km (174 mi) at its widest point and 486 km (302 mi) at its longest point. The island includes the Republic of Ireland (70,283 sq km/27,136 sq mi) with a population of approximately 4.5 million and Northern Ireland (14,148 sq km/5463 sq mi) with a population of approximately 1.6 million.
The country is widely known as the "Emerald Isle” because of its lush landscape of good agricultural lands with rolling green hills, many mountain ranges, and a total coastline of almost 2000 miles. This lush landscape relies on a typical European temperate oceanic climate which is mild, moist and changeable with abundant rainfall and a lack of temperature extremes. Typical October weather includes average temperatures of 11°C 51°F (8°C 46°F- 13°C 55°F). While rain is common in October, with a typical 80mm fall for the month, about 40% of days are dry and half of these are sunny.
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland located approximately mid-point along the east coast with an urban area population of approximately 1.35 million. The city was awarded an “Alpha” rating among the top thirty cities in the world by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network and in 2010 was awarded the permanent title as a UNESCO City of Literature, joining Edinburgh, Melbourne and Iowa City. Lonely Planet recently ranked Dublin third out of all the cities in the world on its list of top cities for 2016, describing it as having a “healthy hue” and enjoying a recent renaissance with the city commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The national tourist agency ‘Fáilte Ireland’ (meaning welcome Ireland) are proud of these recognitions of Dublin as a destination which offers an incredible variety of experiences to its visitors.
The city of Dublin acknowledges 988 AD as the year of original settlement and celebrated its millennium in 1988. Following the 1916 uprising which culminated in the partition of the country in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, now named Ireland.
At its peak in the 18th century, the city was fifth largest city in Europe and enjoys a vast architectural heritage from that era. Dublin also has world-famous literary heritage including Nobel laureates William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett, and others including Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and Bram Stoker J.M.Synge, Maeve Binchy, and Roddy Doyle. The city is famous as the location of James Joyce’s Ulysses, and Dubliners. Dublin is also the focal point for much of Irish art and the Irish artistic scene. Dublin city is the home of the Book of Kells, the world-famous manuscript produced by Celtic Monks in AD 800 which is on display daily in Trinity College.
Along with its writing heritage, Dublin theatre is famous as the starting point for many famous Irish actors including Noel Purcell, Sir Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Stephen Rea, Colin Farrell, Colm Meaney and Gabriel Byrne. The live music heritage of the city is also famous for names including The Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, U2, The Script, Sinéad O'Connor, Boyzone, and Westlife, and of course home of Riverdance.
Against this backdrop, we are pleased to offer delegates an exciting social programme.
On Wednesday 26th October 2016 from 19.00 – 21.00, the first evening of the conference, delegates are kindly invited to a reception in Dublin City Hall for a welcome by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Transport to and from the event will be provided free of charge and will be in a Dublin double-decker bus.
City Hall is a famous Dublin landmark of architectural appeal and historical interest. Originally built as the Royal Exchange in the 1760’s, the hall was purchased in the 1850s by the City Corporation of Dublin who held their first meeting in the hall on 30 September 1852. The 18th-century restoration of the building by Dublin City Council won a number of conservation awards.
The reception will be in the famous rotunda of City Hall which is the historic circular hall with its twelve pillars supporting an embellished gold leaf dome, and an outstanding example of the Georgian architecture for which the city is renowned. The hall is an ideal venue to enjoy some warm food, drinks, with some traditional Irish music.
The double-decker buses, which are a feature of Dublin city, will leave the hotel at 18:45 and bring delegates directly to City Hall. Following the reception the buses will bring delegates back to the hotel providing a night view of some of the city sights enroute.
For those delegates who are unable to secure the limited invitations to the welcome reception, an alternative event will be offered which will offer delegates an evening sightseeing tour of Dublin City. This event is also free of charge. The bus will leave from the hotel at 7:15pm for the two hour tour and return to the hotel at approximately 9:30pm.
As there is limited availability for both of these free events delegates are advised to register early for the conference as places must be allocated on a first registered basis.
On Thursday 27th October 2016 from 19.00 – 23.00 delegates are invited to join the conference Gala Dinner in the historic Clontarf Castle which dates back to 1172, and now tastefully combines ancient architecture with an award winning function venue. The castle is located in a very old area of Dublin city which is famous as the site of the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. The castle has a long association with famous names including Brian Boru, Ireland’s first King, and Handel who stayed there for the Dublin premiere of his Messiah in 1742.
Transport to and from the event will leave from the hotel at 7pm for the short 15 minute drive to the Castle, and return after the event arriving back at approximately 11:30pm.
The Gala Dinner event is all inclusive of:
• Transport to and from the Crown Plaza Hotel to Clontarf Castle
• Welcome reception in the historic castle entrance hall (2 drinks per person).
• 3 course dinner in the banquet hall with Irish beef/fish/ vegetarian options and wine (2 drinks per person with further drinks available at the bar).
• Irish themed entertainment of music and dancing.
The Conference Gala Dinner fee is € 75 (cash or by bank transfer) and € 79 for credit card payment.
As there is are limited seats available it is advised to book your place as early as possible for this event. As soon as seating limit has been reached the possibility of booking will be removed from the conference website.
Additional Tourist Attractions/Tours
In addition to the formal events of the conference social programme it is expected that many international delegates might wish to avail of tourist options either in Dublin or beyond the city. Additionally, delegates may be accompanied by a non conference attending partner who might wish to avail of tourist options.
Based upon preliminary expressions of interest a number of tours are being explored. While these are separate from the conference event, the plan is to provide low cost options with the advantage of leaving from and returning to the conference hotel.
Northern Tour
A full day tour which will include historic sites of Belfast city; then proceed to world famous Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle (thought to inspire Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia), before making the return trip to the conference hotel. [Approximate cost €45 not including Giants causeway admission fee]
Western Tour
A full day tour which will include historic Galway city; then proceed to world famous Cilffs of Moher, the Burren and Dunguaire Castle (used in the movies ‘Guns in the Heather’ and ‘North Sea Hijack’), before making the return trip to the conference hotel. [Approximate cost €45 not including admission fees]
Dublin City Tour
A half day tour will visit many famous sites including the grounds of Trinity College, Stephens Green, Georgian Dublin, St Patricks Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, and Phoenix Park before returning to the conference hotel. [Approximate cost €25 not including admission fees]
Tour Dates
Northern Tour:
Saturday 29th October 2016
Sunday 30th October 2016
Western Tour:
Saturday 29th October 2016
Sunday 30th October 2016
City Tour:
Thursday 27th October 2016
Friday 28th October 2016
Saturday 29th October 2016
Sunday 30th October 2016
Please note:
Proposed tours are being specially organised for the exclusive use of conference delegates (and their companions) and will therefore be provided subject to adequate numbers.
The tours are low cost, relative to alternative tourist offerings, and have the distinct advantage of leaving from and returning to the conference hotel. The tours have been provided to offer delegates a convenient opportunity to sample of Ireland’s sights.
All delegates who are registered by October 03rd will be provided with further details of each tour and the opportunity to reserve tours of their choice. The tours are open to delegates and their companions.
On behalf of the local organization committee,
Dr. Kevin McKenna & Annette Kennedy
Drs. N.E. Oud (Nico Oud)
Hakfort 621
1102 LA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: ++ 31 (0)20 409 0369 (private)
Tel: ++ 31 (0)20 409 0368 (office)
Fax: ++ 31 (0)20 409 0550
E-Mail: nico.oud@freeler.nl
© Oud Consultancy - Amsterdam - The Netherlands - 
