Mayo town’s centre calls for speakers for 2026 Climate and Nature Conference

The Mary Robinson Centre has issued a national call for session proposals for its flagship Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference 2026, set to take place in Ballina, Co Mayo on July 9 and 10, 2026.

Under the theme “Food and Care: A Meitheal for Our Time”, organisers are inviting community groups, farmers, researchers, activists and artists from across Ireland to bring their knowledge and lived experience to the table on equal footing.

Hosted in Ballina, the hometown of former President Mary Robinson, the conference aims to blend cutting-edge research with on-the-ground community action in a way that reflects the Irish tradition of the meitheal — neighbours coming together to share work, wisdom and care.

Organisers say climate action, biodiversity protection and strong communities are not separate from food production, but central to securing safe, sustainable harvests for future generations.The 2026 conference aims to close that gap.

“We want the farmer and the ecologist in the same room. The care worker and the policy researcher. The community activist and the climate scientist,” a spokesperson for the Centre said. “Not one informing the other, but both learning together.”

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At the heart of the event is a strong message: climate action, biodiversity protection, good agricultural practice and community resilience are not separate from food production. Efforts to restore rivers, protect pollinators, reduce agricultural runoff and strengthen local food networks are framed as essential acts of nourishment that secure safe, sustainable harvests for future generations.

Proposals are welcome for workshops, talks, panels, field trips within 45 minutes of Ballina, and creative or cultural sessions. Applications that connect research with real-world community or agricultural practice are particularly encouraged. Complimentary tickets will be available for selected volunteer facilitators from community and voluntary groups.

Most sessions will run for 60 minutes, with field trips lasting up to three hours. Both indoor and outdoor events are welcome.

Conference co-chairs include Dr Kevin Lynch and Dr Karen Bacon of University of Galway, alongside Laura Dixon, Climate Action Officer with Mayo County Council.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, 20 March 2026, via the Mary Robinson Centre website.