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Valentia Lecture 2026

Valentia Lecture 2026

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Valentia Lecture 2026

This year’s Lecture, the 10th in the series, will take place on Thursday/Friday, July 16/17. We look forward to a number key note speakers who will address the theme “The future of the global citizen in a changing world “ from a range of perspectives including media, politics, society & business. Confirmed speakers this year include Alice Mansergh, CEO, Tourism Ireland, Mícheál Lehane, RTE Political Correspondent, Marie Baker, former Supreme Court Judge and Professor Aoife Lysaght, Science Advisor to the Government.

 

Each of the presentations will be followed by a panel discussion composed of young future leaders, all in their 30’s, the same age as Cyrus Field, the entrepreneur who transformed the world when he led the transatlantic cable project in the late 1800s. Up to 30 of these young leaders are invited from the world of business, politics, academia, media, government, arts and sport in which they were asked to reflect on the theme and the discuss the contribution from the keynote.

 

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Lecture, we will be joined by a delegation from the Canadian European parliamentary group, led by James Maloney, MP. Also in recognition of the 10th anniversary, and to recognise the momentous events at Valentia from the late 1800s which would go on the change the world, we have established the Valentia “Global Impact Award” to recognise a person or persons from Ireland, or associated with Ireland, who have had an impact globally in business, sport, academia, media, arts, politics etc. The honoree for this inaugural award, Mr Robert Kearns, founder of the Canada Ireland Foundation, will present a keynote at the gala dinner on the evening of July 17th.

 

July 16th – Valentia Lecture: “The Future of the Global Citizen in a Changing World”
1.00pmWelcome Lunch at the Royal Hotel
2.00pmGuests transfer to the Cable Station
2.15pmWelcome and opening remarks – Leonard Hobbs, Chairperson, Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation
2.30pmKey Note 1 – Alice Mansergh, CEO, Tourism Ireland
3.00pmPanel 1 responds – chaired by Shay Walsh, Former GM BT Ireland
Albert Dolan TD, Aisling Foley, Kerry President Network Ireland +1 + Canadian parliamentarian
3.45pmBreak
4.00pmKey Note 2 – Mícheál Lehane, RTE Political Correspondent
4.30pmPanel 2 responds, chaired by Fiona Stack, Radio Kerry
Councillor Tommy Cahill, Eimear Kennedy of The Smooth Company, Bronagh Quinn, Founder Enhance Management + Canadian parliamentarian
5.15pmSession 1 closing remarks – Dr Camino Kavanagh, Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation
5.30pmConnecting with Newfoundland, Update on the joint UNESCO initiatives
6.00pmEnd of Day 1
7.45pmSpeakers Dinner, The Moorings at Portmagee
July 17th – Valentia Lecture: “The Future of the Global Citizen in a Changing World”
9.00am‘Future Leaders’ gather for networking activities
VIP Guests do a tour of the Island, Kerry Radio Outside Broadcast Unit
12.00pmLunch at Portmagee and the Royal
1.30pmGuests arrive at the Cable Station
2.00pmWelcome and Opening Remarks – Leonard Hobbs, Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation
2.15pmKey Note 3 – Marie Baker, former Supreme Court Judge
2.45pmPanel 3, chaired by James Maloney, MP at the Canadian Parliament
Dr Michelle O Keeffe, Nimbus MTU, Senator Shane Curley, Dylan Orpen, Intel + Canadian parliamentarian
3.30pmBreak
4.00pmKey Note 4 – Professor Aoife McLysaght, Science Advisor to the Government
4.30pmPanel 4, chaired by Councillor Norma Moriarity
Dr Maureen Haverty, Space Tech Investor, Dr Roisin Lyons, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at UL, Dr Rosie Hood, LinkedIn + Canadian Parliamentarian
5.15pmAn introduction to “The Cable” by Mike Kelly
5.30pmTY Secondary School Competition Winner, presented by Fearghal Reidy, CE KCC and the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation
5.45pmSession 1 closing remarks – Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation
6.00pmEnd of Day 2
7.30pmGala Dinner at the Royal Hotel – Guest Speaker, Robert Kearns, Winner of the Inaugural Valentia Global Impact Award, introduced by Nancy Smyth, Former Canadian Ambassador to Ireland

To register for this event please visit the following URL:

 

Date And Time

16-Jul-2026 to
17-Jul-2026
 

Location

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Event Types

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