A vibrant country where lively cities meet picturesque countryside and centuries of history, Ireland has established itself as a top MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination.
Direct flights connect Belfast, Dublin and Shannon with multiple U.S. cities, and additional options are available through connecting routes. Travelers departing from Dublin and Shannon can pre-clear U.S. Customs and Immigration before boarding flights back to the United States, streamlining the return journey.
Meeting organizers and attendees find strong value in Ireland: the reduced value-added tax (VAT) of 9 percent on certain services helps manage budgets, and most venues offer complimentary WiFi. The country’s compact size and efficient transport links make it easy to combine city-based conferences with countryside excursions during a single trip.
Northern Ireland pairs urban energy in a revitalized Belfast with dramatic rural landscapes. Belfast Waterfront caters to events of all sizes across four floors of highly adaptable event space. For added convenience, Hilton Belfast sits just steps from the convention center.
In 2014 Belfast Waterfront received approval for a major expansion valued at $44.7 million. Scheduled for completion in mid-2016, the enhancement adds more than 16,000 square feet of flat-floor space, a 2,000-seat auditorium, a 380-seat studio, 17 meeting rooms seating 10 to 200 delegates, and exterior terraces with waterfront views.
“We are continually raising the bar in conferencing facilities,” said Jennifer Patterson, revenue and business generation manager at Belfast Waterfront. “This expansion will deliver more choice, greater flexibility and larger spaces for event organizers to stage more ambitious and elaborate events.”
Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast provides a distinctive setting for meetings and events. Built in 1845 and in use as a prison until 1996, the site now houses the Lanyon Suite—formerly the prison chapel—which accommodates 60 to 310 delegates. The wheelchair-accessible suite offers free WiFi and a fully integrated audiovisual system. The former prison kitchen, known as the Scullery, is a versatile room for 20 to 160 guests, well suited for seminars, product launches and exhibitions. Catering ranges from a traditional Ulster breakfast to formal three-course dinners, and groups can opt to include a living history performer to bring the venue’s dramatic past to life.
The Merchant Hotel, a luxury 5-star property set in a former bank, blends Victorian and Art Deco design with contemporary amenities. Six dedicated event spaces host groups from two to 200 guests, and the intimate Veuve Clicquot Champagne Lounge is ideal for receptions and private parties up to 40 attendees.
Titanic Belfast stands on the exact site where RMS Titanic was built and is itself an architectural landmark. The six-floor attraction draws design inspiration from ice crystals and iceberg forms, as well as the shipbuilding materials. Event spaces range from 40 to 800 delegates, and exclusive hire can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. Two underground parking levels provide a total of 520 spaces.
Belfast’s northern location also makes rural attractions easily accessible. The Giant’s Causeway, a natural formation of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by volcanic activity, lies about an hour’s drive from the city. Fans of the television series Game of Thrones can visit Castle Ward (the show’s Winterfell), roughly 40 minutes from Belfast in Strangford. The Clearsky Adventure Centre offers themed team-building activities inspired by the series, including archery, guided boat or cycling tours of filming locations, and medieval-style lunches.
Heading south to Dublin and beyond reveals quintessentially Irish settings for events. The Westin Dublin, situated opposite Trinity College, is a centrally located 5-star hotel suited for meetings. Recognized with Platinum-level certification from the Green Hospitality Awards, the hotel follows sustainable practices such as offering communal pads, pens and mints to reduce waste, using biodegradable markers, providing recycling in meeting spaces, and serving condiments in bulk for catered events. The Westin also offers an online booking discount for small meetings.
The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) provides a wide range of configurable rooms and services to meet diverse event requirements, including custom solutions when needed. Its largest space, The Forum, seats 3,040 theater-style. Since opening in 2010 the CCD has earned numerous accolades, including recognition among the top convention centers globally.
No visit to Dublin is complete without a stop at the Guinness Storehouse. The venue offers eight rentable spaces for groups of 15 to 2,000, including the Gravity Bar with panoramic, 360-degree views of the city. The Guinness Academy teaches guests how to pour the perfect pint and provides a convivial space for drinks and entertainment for up to 90 people. Whiskey enthusiasts can choose the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin for cocktail receptions and networking events hosting 25 to 300 guests; the distillery also offers guided tours, tastings, multi-course dinners and live Irish music.
Ireland’s historic estates and castles make memorable settings for incentive trips and events. Adare Manor in County Limerick works closely with planners to tailor meetings and offers an 18-hole golf course that has hosted the Irish Open. Ashford Castle in County Mayo provides curated group experiences such as fishing and falconry lessons. Ballywalter Park, the Dunleath family’s country mansion in County Down, is an elegant option for intimate receptions. In County Clare, Dromoland Castle Hotel can greet groups with a traditional foxhound welcome, while Bunratty Castle & Folk Park recreates a small Irish village complete with shops, dining and a chapel—ideal for team-building days. The dramatic Cliffs of Moher remain one of Ireland’s most-visited natural attractions and a stunning incentive excursion.
With its combination of modern facilities, historic character, easy accessibility and rich cultural and natural attractions, Ireland continues to draw meeting planners and groups back time and again.