Oral History Network Ireland (OHNI) Annual Meeting, Tralee 18th-19th June 2026

The Oral History Network of Ireland (OHNI) is pleased to announce its 2026 meeting, taking place on 18–19 June 2026 at the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee, County Kerry. 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 archived oral history material.

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.

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: When booking via our Ticket Tailor page, 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. Please select this Workshop via our Ticket Tailor page when booking if you would like to attend.

Spaces are limited for all three 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 your place via OHNI’s Ticket Tailor page.

Early Bird registration (EXTENDED to Friday 5th June 2026)

• Full Member: €60
• Full Member reduced*: €45
• Non-Member: €90
• Non-Member reduced*: €60

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

Please note there is no day rate available.

Please note: This event is not hybrid or online.

ANNUAL DINNER

OHNI annual dinner (optional): Thursday 18th June. Venue: Meadowlands Hotel (Annual Meeting venue); Cost: €40. Book via OHNI’s Ticket Tailor page.

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

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.

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