Talking Towns Seminar Series
Talking Towns is a seminar series organised by the UCD Centre for Irish Towns and the UCD Earth Institute. The series aims to spark conversations about the challenges facing Irish towns, the opportunities they offer, and the role of research and policy in bringing about the revitalisation of towns in Ireland.
Starting in October 2021 the series runs over the academic year and over the course of the series features speakers from academia, policy making and civil society. Each seminar addresses a specific topic affecting Irish towns and will have two to three speakers, each presenting for ten minutes each with plenty of time for discussion afterwards.
Recordings of previous seminars are available on the (opens in a new window)CfIT YouTube channel and a full list of speakers is on the Talking Towns archive page. All seminars will be held on Zoom.
Talking Towns Seminars, Autumn 2025 (online via Zoom)
Thursday 4th December 2025 1-2pm, Seminar 23: Creative Lives - Towns Welcoming Creativity
- Jess Plan, Creative Lives, Place Director (based in England)
- Dan Brown, On Fife, Head of Creative Development (based in Scotland)
- Angi Ward, Edenderry, community leader of Monday Music group in the town (based in Ireland)
You can register (opens in a new window)here.
Thursday 13th November 2025 1-2pm, Seminar 22: (opens in a new window)Hometown Architect Initiative with the (opens in a new window)Irish Architecture Foundation
- Niall O'Cleirigh, architect working between community engagement and adaptive reuse, using conversations, workshops and design to reveal the stories embedded in towns and landscapes. Recent projects: Making Arklow and Reimagine Tuam.
- Mary Kerrigan RIBA MRIAI, architect, placemaker and leadership coach with over 25 years’ experience in community-led placemaking for peace, climate and prosperity; Clodagh Warnock, director of the local music school and youth club supporting 100+ children weekly; Anthony Doogan, retired Principal of Moville Community College.
- Vanessa Menegaldo, Manager of Engagement and Enterprise at the Irish Architecture Foundation, leading its placemaking initiative and co-design programmes since 2022.
You can watch the talk (opens in a new window)here.
Talking Towns Seminars, Spring 2025 (online via Zoom)
Thursday 29th May 2025 1-2pm, Seminar 21: Activation of Vacant Spaces, Castleblayney
- Annemarie McHugh, chairperson of the (opens in a new window)Castleblayney Town team
- (opens in a new window)Laurence Lord, architect AP+E and Senior Lecturer at Queens University Belfast
- (opens in a new window)Deirdriu McQuaid, County Librarian and Head of Cultural Services at Monaghan County Council
You can watch the talk (opens in a new window)here.
Thursday 24th April 2025 1-2 pm, Seminar 20: What do we think of towns? Irish Urban Attitudes
- (opens in a new window)John Mulloy, Former Lecturer in Art History and Theory, Atlantic Technological University
- (opens in a new window)Dr. Miriam Fitzpatrick, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin
- (opens in a new window)Michael Bradley, MRAI, Senior Executive Architect, Limerick City and County Council & Entrepreneur.
You can watch the talk (opens in a new window)here.
More information on upcoming sessions will be released shortly. Sign up to our (opens in a new window)Mailing List to be notified.
If you would like to contribute to a future seminar, please email (opens in a new window)cfit@ucd.ie.