South Dublin County PPN staff and two members of our Secretariat attended the National PPN Conference 2026 in Athlone on 24–25 September, joining representatives from Public Participation Networks (PPNs) from across Ireland.
Hosted by Roscommon PPN, the two-day conference brought together people working to strengthen community participation and representation at local level. Under the theme “Empowering Communities Through Connection, Collaboration and Cohesion,” the event provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore how PPNs can continue to support communities and ensure their voices are heard.
The programme featured a range of speakers, workshops and discussions on community participation, social inclusion, resilience and community leadership. These sessions gave attendees the chance to learn from initiatives taking place in other counties, discuss common challenges and discover new approaches that could benefit their own local networks.
The conference also included site visits showcasing local heritage, biodiversity and community-led initiatives in County Roscommon, highlighting the important role communities play in protecting local assets, creating connections and contributing to sustainable development.
For South Dublin County PPN, attending the conference was an opportunity to strengthen connections with PPNs nationwide, learn from the experiences of others and bring fresh ideas back to our own network. Sharing knowledge and building relationships across the national PPN network helps us reflect on our work and explore new ways to support our member groups and communities throughout South Dublin County.
A sincere thank you to Roscommon PPN and everyone involved in organising the conference for bringing PPNs together for two days of learning, collaboration and connection.
By continuing to work together and learn from one another, PPNs can help strengthen community participation and ensure that local voices contribute to decisions affecting the places where people live, work and participate.
