The 2026 HAI Celebrants Conference took place on Sunday 11 January at the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, bringing together celebrants from across the country for a full day of discussion, learning, and professional reflection. Members who could not attend in person had the opportunity to join the event by Zoom.
The conference opened with a welcome and update from the Celebrant Representatives, outlining key developments within the HAI and the Celebrants’ Association over the outgoing year. Updates included progress in working with the new management team and Board, planned developments for the Celebrants Service Advisory Committee (CSAC), and recognising marketing initiatives such as the “Meet Our Celebrants” feature on the HAI website and proposed revisions to the Celebrants’ Handbook.
A very successful session of the morning was the presentation by Gail Quinn and Niamh Davies on social media, with a particular focus on Instagram for celebrants. Their presentation was both highly informative and professional, offering clear, practical guidance on building an online presence. It generated a very positive response from the members, with lively discussion throughout the session.
The conference was also very pleased with the contributions from HAI Board Chair Michael O’Keane and HAI Operations Manager Niamh Clowry. Their input was warmly received and spoke clearly to the collaborative and constructive relationship that has developed between the Celebrants’ Association and the wider HAI. This spirit of cooperation was seen as a strong foundation for future work and shared goals.
In the afternoon, members heard a particularly inspiring contribution from HAI member Tony O’Donohue, who, in collaboration with celebrant Eithne Dempsey, shared their experience of developing and delivering a Coming of Age ceremony within a local community. This presentation provided a powerful and practical example of what can be achieved when an organisation and a community work together creatively and respectfully and it resonated strongly with those in attendance.
The day concluded with plenary discussions, member reflections and closing remarks, rounding off the conference that was widely regarded as collegial, forward-looking and a positive indication of the depth of experience that our celebrants have and their commitment within the celebrant association.