Case Study: iPRES 2030 – Ireland
Why Ireland’s iPRES 2030 Bid Succeeded
A Model of Collaboration, Cultural Vision, and Professional Excellence
In 2025, Ireland was selected to host the International Conference on Digital Preservation (iPRES) 2030, prevailing over 27 other bids from around the world.
The selection marked a landmark moment for Ireland’s digital preservation and archival communities – recognising not only the technical excellence of its proposal but the breadth of collaboration, cultural authenticity, and strategic vision underpinning it.
1. A National Effort: The Power of Collaboration
At the heart of Ireland’s winning bid was a cross-border, cross-sector consortium, demonstrating a truly national commitment to iPRES values of inclusivity, innovation, and stewardship.
The Consortium Partners
- Guinness Archive (Diageo) – representing private-sector heritage and corporate archives.
- Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) – Ireland’s national digital preservation infrastructure and the coordinating lead.
- National Library of Ireland (NLI) – national leadership in web archiving and digital legal deposit.
- RTÉ Archives – custodians of Ireland’s largest audiovisual collection.
- Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) – representing Northern Ireland’s public record and cross-border cooperation.
2. Community-Wide Support
The bid was backed by an extraordinary level of sectoral and institutional endorsement, including:
- National cultural institutions (Royal Irish Academy, TG4, National Archives of Ireland, CONUL).
- Academic leaders (Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast).
- Professional bodies (Archives and Records Association Ireland, Digital Preservation Coalition).
- National tourism and government agencies (Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland).
This network-wide engagement proved Ireland’s bid was not only well-organised but deeply rooted in its professional and civic community – reflecting the Irish tradition of Meitheal: coming together to achieve a common goal.
3. Cultural and Conceptual Strength: “Collogue and Meitheal”
The conference theme, “Collogue and Meitheal”, captured the essence of digital preservation through Irish cultural language:
- Collogue (Ulster Scots): conversation, shared intent.
- Meitheal (Irish): a collective effort, neighbours coming together to help one another.
The theme resonated internationally as a human-centred interpretation of digital collaboration, grounding the event in Irish cultural values while aligning perfectly with iPRES’s global mission of openness and knowledge sharing.
4. Perfect Venue: The Royal Dublin Society (RDS)
Ireland’s selection of the RDS, Dublin, was a decisive factor in the bid’s success.
- A venue with deep cultural and archival relevance – home to the 150-year-old Dublin Horse Show
- Proven infrastructure for large-scale, sustainable, and hybrid international events
- Aligned with iPRES’s preservation ethos through its charitable foundation reinvesting in culture, science, and sustainability
Community Legacy in Practice in Collaboration with RDS
The RDS commitment to host an on-site digitisation lab during the conference was seen as visionary:
Delegates will actively digitise the Maymes Anssell photographic collection (1965–2000), learning, preserving, and leaving behind a public digital exhibition – a tangible legacy of iPRES in action.
This initiative connected theory with practice, heritage with technology, and conference participation with lasting societal impact.
Professional Excellence: Delivered by Keynote PCO
As the appointed Professional Conference Organiser, Keynote PCO brought decades of expertise in managing large, multi-site, hybrid academic events.
Our proven systems for financial governance, programme coordination, and logistics ensured the iPRES bid was technically robust and logistically sound, instilling confidence in the selection committee.
Keynote’s role demonstrated:
- Deep familiarity with Ireland’s conference infrastructure
- A commitment to sustainable, inclusive delivery
- Experience handling international, multi-stakeholder scientific events up to 4,000 delegates.
Legacy and Long-Term Impact
Ireland’s iPRES 2030 will:
- Strengthen north–south cooperation on digital heritage policy
- Inspire national legislation for digital preservation
- Establish a lasting online exhibition from the RDS digitisation project
- Provide bursaries and outreach programmes for emerging professionals
This enduring legacy exemplifies how major conferences can catalyse cultural and structural transformation.
Partner with Keynote PCO
To learn more about how Keynote PCO can help you bring a world-class conference to your doorstep, contact Kasia Mahony, Director of Business Development: kasia@keynotepco.ie
We specialise in strategic planning, bid development, and full-service conference management, helping organisations turn ambitious ideas into successful international events.
Planning a successful conference requires the right partner, one who understands the complexities, connects the right people, and delivers with precision and professionalism.
Contact us today to discover how Keynote PCO can help you create impact, strengthen your community, and deliver events that leave a lasting legacy.
