Irish Events: Irish Autumn Meeting & AGM 2026

We are delighted to invite you to Fermanagh House, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh on Saturday, 3 October 2026.

Whether you are a complete beginner, a botanical expert, or simply curious about wild plants, everyone is warmly welcome. There is something for all skill levels to enjoy! An extra-warm invite goes out to participants of the BSBI 100 Plants in 2026 Challenge - we would love for you to come along, share your progress, and join in the day's activities!

Programme and schedule

This year’s meeting focuses on wild plant recording, with sessions tailored for botanists of all experience levels. Throughout the day, you will hear about the unique flora of Co. Fermanagh, learn about exciting new projects, discover how to get the most out of the BSBI's Distribution Database (DDb), and take part in hands-on workshops led by experts to build your identification skills.

In addition to talks and workshops, Acanthophyllum Books will host a bookstall featuring out-of-print, used, and rare natural history books. Above all, it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow plant enthusiasts from across Ireland, all set within view of botanically rich Lough Erne.

• 10:00 AM: Arrival and morning coffee
• 10:30 AM: Main programme commences
• 3:30 PM: BSBI Irish AGM (in person and via Zoom)
• 4:45 PM: Proceedings conclude

Please make sure to keep an eye on the Irish Autumn Meeting webpage on our website for further updates as the date approaches.

Booking and ticket charges

Advance registration is essential for this event.  

In response to feedback, this year’s registration fee includes a light lunch (soup and sandwiches) plus morning and afternoon tea and coffee. Providing catering on-site maximizes networking and workshop time, which is particularly helpful as the venue does not allow packed lunches and there are no nearby catering options.

• BSBI Members: £10.00
• Non-members: £12.00
• Students: £7.00

Ticket charges are in £ Sterling. If you prefer to pay in Euro, please call Sarah Woods on +44 (0) 7570 254619 to book. 

As fees only partially cover catering, any additional donations made during checkout are warmly appreciated! We are also happy to accommodate special dietary requirements - simply indicate your needs in the relevant field when booking your ticket.

AGM-only registration (free) 

Attending the AGM at 3:30 PM (in person or via Zoom) is completely free. If you are only attending the AGM, please book the free AGM ticket option here instead, so we can monitor numbers and issue Zoom joining instructions for those joining online.

Workshops and lunch sittings

Workshop places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis on the day (no advance workshop booking required). To accommodate workshops, lunch will be split into two sittings:

• Lunch at 12.15 PM with a choice of workshops at 1.15 PM
  • Irish Ferns (Dean McCullough) or Aquatic Plants (Robert Northridge)
• Lunch at 1.15 PM with a choice of workshops at 12.15 PM
  • Recording for Beginners (Jo Mulholland) or  Sorbus ID (Tim Rich)

Posters

We have some very limited space for exhibiting posters at the Conference; please contact the Ireland Officer (bridget.keehan@bsbi.org) if you are interested in bringing a poster along for display.

Venue, access and safety

• Location and parking: Fermanagh House can be found here. Parking is available nearby at Wellington Place, Wellington Road, and Castle Park.

• Accessibility: Fermanagh House has excellent disabled access and an induction loop system in place. More details here. If you have specific accessibility questions or specific needs that would help you take part comfortably, please contact Bridget Keehan at bridget.keehan@bsbi.org or call +44 (0) 7404 231178.

• Safety and booking terms: Please read this guidance for participants at BSBI events carefully, before booking.

The BSBI has a culture of mutual respect, and takes seriously the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in our events. We want everyone at our events to enjoy themselves, and we expect everyone to act in a respectful manner towards others at all times. We will not tolerate harassment, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour of any kind, and will treat any reported incidents seriously.

Need help booking?

If you experience any difficulties booking online, please call the main BSBI line between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM: +44 (0) 7404 231178.