Buncrana seminar hears value of 'strong regional governance and long-term planning'

The Association of Irish Regions (AIR) successfully hosted its Annual Training Seminar 2026 at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, bringing together councillors from across Ireland alongside senior representatives from local authorities, regional bodies, national agencies and European organisations.

Held over two days, on February 25 and 26, the seminar was themed ‘Regions Looking Forward to the Coming Decade’ and provided a forum for discussion, learning and collaboration on the key issues shaping Ireland’s regional development.

The event was moderated by broadcaster and Newstalk presenter Ciara Doherty, with Donegal GAA manager Jim McGuinness delivering the keynote address.

The seminar was officially opened by Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of the Association of Irish Regions, and Conall McGettigan, Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

The programme featured a high-level exchange between local, national and international bodies involved in regional policy, planning and delivery.

Across the seminar, there was a strong focus on the need to address historic under-investment in regional infrastructure, particularly in transport and energy, and the impact this has on regional competitiveness, connectivity and quality of life.

Discussions highlighted the importance of aligning the National Development Plan with regional priorities and ensuring infrastructure investment supports balanced growth across all regions.

Participants also examined opportunities to improve the efficiency and speed of planning, investment and project delivery, recognising that lengthy processes can delay critical infrastructure and undermine regional development objectives.

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Speakers from organisations, including IDA Ireland, EirGrid, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, KPMG, the OECD, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Galway County Council and Donegal County Council, and ERNACT, emphasised the importance of clearer policy alignment, stronger coordination between agencies, and more streamlined decision-making to ensure investment translates more quickly into on-the-ground outcomes for communities and businesses.

Presentations from the Irish Regions European Office (IREO), the European Policies Research Centre (University of Strathclyde) and the Southern Regional Assembly provided updates on the future of EU Cohesion Policy and its potential impact for Ireland.

Speakers emphasised the need for collaboration and increased awareness of changes in EU policy and priorities to maximise the drawdown of both EU and Government of Ireland funding.

Speaking following the event, Cllr. Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of AIR, said: “AIR provides a unique opportunity to bring together councillors from across Ireland alongside representatives from government departments, agencies and regional bodies to discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities for regional development. This seminar highlights the value of that engagement, creating space for informed discussion, shared learning and collaboration.”

A highlight of the seminar was an inspiring keynote address by Jim McGuinness, manager of the Donegal GAA senior footballers, who drew parallels between elite sports leadership and regional governance, with a focus on resilience, teamwork and long-term performance.

The event concluded with a site visit to Fort Dunree, where participants were briefed by Fáilte Ireland and the Fort Dunree Board on ambitious investment plans to transform the historic site into a world-class tourism destination for the North West.

Conall McGettigan, Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, added: “The AIR Training Seminar provides an important platform for councillors and stakeholders to engage directly with the organisations responsible for planning, funding and delivering regional development. The breadth of contributions over the two days reinforced the importance of strong regional governance, effective coordination and long-term planning.”

“Learning from both national and European experience is critical as we work to ensure Ireland’s regions are well positioned to respond to future challenges and opportunities.”

The AIR Annual Training Seminar continues to play a key role in supporting councillor capacity building, strengthening regional collaboration and advancing informed discussion on the future of Ireland’s regions. For more information, visit www.irishregions.ie