OHNI FREE event: ‘Magic Moments, Medals & Memorabilia: Sport & Oral Heritage’

‘Magic Moments, Medals & Memorabilia: Sport & Oral Heritage’, supported by The Heritage Council

TheOral History Network of Ireland FREE Community Event

Saturday 7^th November 2026, 9am-5pm

TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

With thanks to The Heritage Council, join the Oral History Network of Ireland (OHNI) for a FREE community heritage event exploring how physical objects, sporting achievements, and lived experiences unlock local history and collective memory.

Supported by The Heritage Council, this event offers a fantastic lineup of speakers, a practical oral history masterclass, and an opportunity to develop your network of formal and informal support. This interactive day will give you the practical tools and confidence to record your own community oral history projects, while learning how others have brought theirs to life.

Event Details

• Location: TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
• Date: Saturday, 7th November 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Admission: FREE (Pre-booking required — Full Day and Afternoon-Only options available)

We are delighted to offer tea/coffee to all attendees, with complimentary light lunch provided for full-day participants. To help us cater accurately and avoid food waste, please choose the ticket option that best suits your schedule (Full Day or Afternoon-Only). If your plans change after booking, kindly let us know by Friday 30th October 2026 so we can adjust our arrangements.  

OUR VENUE

This FREE event will be held at the TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The hotel provides step-free access, with ground-level parking available on both the TF Royal Hotel and Royal Theatre grounds. An adjacent multi-storey car park is also available directly beside the complex at The Ellison Hotel. Please note that a daily parking charge applies.

Teas and coffees will be provided at registration and again during the afternoon. We will also provide a light lunch, all of which is included in your FREE ticket to this event.

View hotel map HERE.

Limited spaces available — advance booking is strongly advised.

Key Highlights

• Morning Practical Workshop: Learn fundamental oral history techniques and tools to start capturing stories in your own community.
• Community Heritage Panel: Hear from a panel of speakers exploring regional history and community-led preservation.
• OHNI Presentations: Daniel Carey introduces a new GAA-focused oral history project, sharing audio clips reflecting on Mayo’s rich sporting culture; and Linda Fitzgibbon explores how physical objects serve as tangible symbols of our collective memory, and how oral history can unlock their stories - turning them into vital primary sources to record your own lived history.
• Interactive Sporting 'Bring & Tell' Session: Bring along an item of personal sporting significance, such as an artefact, photograph or memorabilia, and share its story. You will have the opportunity to record a short oral history interview with our team and have your object professionally photographed.

Programme

• 09:00 – 09:30 | Registration & Welcome
• 09:30 – 10:45 | Oral History Practical Workshop
• 10:45 – 11:15 | Complimentary Tea & Coffee Break
• 11:15 – 12:30 | Panel Presentation: Community Heritage
• 12:30 – 13:30 | Complimentary Light Lunch (Provided on site)
• 13:30 – 14:30 | Oral History in Action (Presentations by Daniel Carey & Linda Fitzgibbon)
• 14:30 – 15:00 | Complimentary Afternoon Tea Break
• 15:00 – 16:30 | 'Bring & Tell' Breakout Sessions (Recording & sporting object photography)
• 16:30 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks & Thank you

Contact info@oralhistorynetworkireland.ie with any questions.

Registration Information

This is a free event, but registration is required as numbers are limited. Register before Friday 6th November 2026 to secure your place.