OHNI Annual Meeting, Tralee 18th-19th June 2026

The Oral History Network of Ireland (OHNI) is delighted to announce details of its 2026 annual meeting, which will take place in the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee on 18th-19th June 2026. The annual meeting is a gathering of practising oral historians and all those with an interest in the recording, collecting and preserving oral history and heritage.

This two-day event offers interactive workshops, presentations and project showcases that are designed to inspire discussion, learning, knowledge and to create greater networking amongst our community. Whether you are experienced in oral history or just beginning your journey, we invite you to join us and share your insights and ideas.

Mary Stewart, Lead Curator of Oral History at the British Library, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s meeting. Mary is Director of the oral history fieldwork charity National Life Stories, and a trustee of OHNI’s UK equivalent, the Oral History Society. Her research interests include family histories and narratives and their use as a tool for academic research and oral history and their reception by family members of interviewees. She has also been exploring the ‘biography’ of the oral history archive: contextualising collections, capturing information about the research process and exploring ethical debates about the re-use of archived oral history material. 

Mary Stewart

This year’s theme is ‘Oral History and Movement’.

Movement can be understood broadly, and we have invited reflections on how movement shapes human experience and storytelling: the physical movement of people across places and borders; social and political movements that bring people together/divide them; movement through time, memory, and the generations; movement of voices from the private spaces/spheres into public archives; those memories which emerge from our journeys taken, changes endured, and moments of transition.

Movement is central to how stories are told and remembered. Oral histories frequently unfold through accounts of travel, migration, work, protest, displacement, and return, but also through quieter movements: daily routines, changing neighbourhoods, or shifts in identity and belonging. This conference aims to create an inclusive and welcoming space for academics, community historians and OHNI members to explore how movement, in all its forms, is recorded, interpreted, and shared through oral history.

This year’s closing panel will be ‘The Kingdom in stories and memories: Celebrating oral history collections at the Kerry Writers’ Museum.’ Marking its 25^th anniversary this year, Kerry Writers’ Museum is dedicated to celebrating the richness of story in Co. Kerry, through the spoken word, literature, theatre and performance. Its archive contains some important oral history recordings on the literature and theatre of the county, which are of local, national and international acclaim. A panel consisting of Dr. Fiona Brennan, Cara Trant, Executive Director, Kerry Writers’ Museum and Jimmy Deenihan, former Government Minister and Board member of the museum, will share the history of the museum, its collections and how the oral and the archival intertwine to tell its stories and histories.

Register your FREE ticket to the Kerry Writers’ Museum panel, by visiting our link HERE.

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Kindly note, the Call for Participation has now closed.

Please find the 2026 Programme below HERE.

WORKSHOPS

There will be three workshops offered as part of this year’s meeting: two running concurrently on Thursday and one on Friday.

Thursday Attendees: Please select either Workshop A or B to help us manage capacity. Note: These sessions run concurrently, so we strongly advise pre-registering for your preferred session.

Workshop C will be held on Friday morning.

Spaces are limited for all workshops so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Participation is included in the cost of registration. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis.

• Workshop A: Practical Approaches to an Oral History Project (Thursday 18th June), with Arlene Crampsie
• Workshop B: Oral History for Graduate Students and Early Career Researchers (Thursday 18th June), with Daniel Carey
• Workshop C: (Friday 19th June) with keynote speaker Mary Stewart

REGISTRATION

Register using the form below.

• Full Member: €80
• Full Member reduced*: €65
• Non-Member: €110
• Non-Member reduced*: €80

* reduced rates are for students, seniors, and unwaged individuals only.

Please note there is no day rate available.

OHNI annual dinner (optional): Thursday 18th June. Venue: Meadowlands Hotel (Annual Meeting venue); Cost: €40.

ACCOMMODATION

A number of hotels and accommodation options are available in and around Tralee. Delegates are urged to book their accommodation as soon as possible as the event will be taking place during the summer and Tralee is a busy tourist town.

The below list is provided as a helpful signpost only; OHNI does not have block-booking agreements or special conference rates with these providers.

• The Ashe Hotel – theashehotel.ie
• The Rose Hotel – therosehotel.com
• Manor West Hotel – manorwesthotel.ie
• Tralee Town Centre Apartments – ttca.ie (Note: Offers groups the opportunity to book Superior Apartments for up to 4 guests per apartment.)
• Airbnb (Tralee Search) – airbnb.ie

FURTHER INFORMATION ON MEADOWLANDS HOTEL

Meadowlands Hotel Tralee is a family run hotel on the Wild Atlantic Way.  The venue is just over 1 km from Tralee Bus & Train Station (10–15 minutes on foot; 3–5 minutes by car) and approximately 18 km from Kerry Airport (20–25 minutes by car or transfer). The hotel offers complimentary onsite parking with accessible bays near the entrance and a convenient drop-off zone. Inside, accessibility includes step-free access, lift access to guest floors, accessible restrooms, and various accommodation and food & beverage options.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The nearest airport to Tralee is Kerry Airport in Farranfore. Direct flights serve Kerry from Dublin, London Luton and London Stansted. Tralee is also accessible by train and bus from Cork and Dublin.

Please note: This event is not hybrid or online. All presentations must be made live and in-person in Tralee. Online or video presentations are not possible.

The Oral History Network of Ireland (OHNI) provides training, support and advice for individuals, academics, and community groups engaged in oral history projects.

For further information or inquiries, please contact us at info@oralhistorynetworkireland.ie

Oral History Network of Ireland

https://oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/