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Exchange is our annual hybrid virtual and in-person club support conference covering a wide range of areas relevant to our sport including participation, performance, inclusion, safesport & integrity and club/commercial development. It also provides our clubs with a great platform to connect, share success stories and build relationships.
Gymnastics Ireland Exchange 2026
We are thrilled to announce the full schedule for this year's Gymnastics Ireland Exchange, taking place from Monday 4th to Saturday 9th May and open exclusively to Gymnastics Ireland members.
This year's programme once again embraces a flexible hybrid format, combining online workshops with an exciting in-person event.
The in-person day will include insightful talks from experts in the fields of sport and leadership including Conor Niland, author of multi-award winning book 'The Racket'; Former Irish Navy Captain Marie Gleeson; and Olympic Gold Medallist Rhys McClenaghan along with our club-dedicated Crisis Management Masterclass.
This is an event not to be missed!
Full schedule of events can be found here...
If you would like any further information on any aspect of the Exchange week, please contact [email protected]
What's on?
Monday 4th – Thursday 7th May | Online Club Workshops
Kick off the week from the comfort of your own home or club with a series of online workshops designed to inform, inspire and support your club's development. Sign up to online workshops HERE via your LearnUpon account.
- From Your WHY to Your WHAT, WHEN and HOW: Creating a Vision and Strategy for your Club - ICOACHKIDS, Prof. Sergio Lara-Bercial - Tuesday 5th May 11:00 - 12:15
- Garda Vetting and Safeguarding - Key Information for Clubs, Deirdre Wixted McPherson (GI) - Wednesday 6th May 11:00 - 12:00
- An Introduction to Diversity and Inclusion with Unconscious Bias, Irish Centre for Diversity - Wednesday 6th May 19:30 - 20:30
- Boomerang: Designing Experiences So That They Come Back for More, Professor Fiona Chambers - Thursday 7th May 11:00 - 12:30
Friday 8th May | In-Person Speaker Day
Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown | 10:30am – 4:30pm
Join us for a full day of insightful and inspirational talks, panel discussions and club networking opportunities. Hear from a fantastic lineup of speakers covering key themes from across the gymnastics landscape. This is a brilliant opportunity to learn from experts and fellow clubs/members, share your own stories and build lasting connections within the Gymnastics Ireland community.
- Increasing Boys’ Participation in Gymnastics - Rhys McClenaghan, Olympic Gold Winning Medallist
- Keynote speaker, Conor Niland, former international tennis player and author of multi-award winning book 'The Racket'
- Leadership Masterclass, Marie Gleeson, Former Irish Navy Captain
- A journey from Gymnast to International Judge, Leah Twomey
- Parents Decision Making in Sport & Communication, Garry Cahill PhD – Chair of Gymnastics Ireland High Performance Committee
Saturday 9th May | Crisis Management Masterclass
Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown | 10:00am – 2:30pm
Round off a week full of learning opportunities with our club dedicated Crisis Management Masterclass, delivered in partnership with International SOS Consulting, one of the leading crisis management organisations globally.
This highly practical and engaging session will cover the key building blocks of effective crisis management, including governance, escalation, roles & responsibilities and communications. Attendees will come away with:
- A clear understanding of what effective leadership in a crisis looks like in practice
- Confidence in how to structure decision-making and coordination under pressure
- Proven crisis management principles translated into real, usable approaches for your club
A standout feature of the Masterclass is a tailor-made scenario exercise developed specifically for Gymnastics Ireland clubs. This is your opportunity to work through a realistic, relevant scenario, testing your coordination, identifying gaps in your current approach and discovering where your club's strengths lie.