Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference comes to Killeavy Castle Estate

With the theme of ‘Climate Action, Community and Collaboration’, this year’s Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference will take place in Killeavy Castle Estate in Co Armagh on Thursday 22 January 2026. Now in its seventh year, this is the first time the renowned conference will take place in Northern Ireland. The event is supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The event is organised by the Sustainable Tourism Network (formerly Sustainable Travel Ireland) and its recently launched sister company, the Sustainable Business Network. The Sustainable Tourism Network is the leading and longest-running sustainability training company for the tourism industry on the island of Ireland.

This year’s Inspiring Sustainable Tourism line-up will appeal to leaders in both the tourism industry and the wider business community. The agenda will feature a hugely impressive group of experts, industry professionals and leaders from the field.

Conference highlights will include:

Seán McCabe, Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability, Bohemian Football Club

At Bohemian Football Club, Seán McCabe has built a team dedicated to developing inclusive and cooperative climate solutions that can benefit local communities and can be scaled throughout world football. The club actively promotes climate action through projects like the Bohemian Climate Co-operative and The Spark, fostering community wealth and accessible climate solutions. Seán has previously worked with the Mary Robinson Foundation and has more than 18 years experience in fields related to climate justice. His work combines grassroots action with international advocacy.

Jenny Hanna, Owner, The Green Holiday Cottages

Jenny Hanna and her husband Mark have transformed a derelict 18th century corn and flax mill in Kilkeel into a vibrant retreat with six cottages, outdoor kitchens, reception spaces, a river walk and a woodland spa. Jenny and Mark have shaped the vision and guest experiences, including their unique Mourne Stone Wall Building Experience, which celebrates local heritage and culture through traditional dry stone walling with original Mourne granite. The Green Holiday Cottages project has increasingly embraced sustainable practices and balanced economic resilience with environmental stewardship.

Darren Rice, Manager, Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark

Darren Rice has worked since the early 2000s to connect people with the natural, cultural and built heritage of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark. He leads a wide range of projects, from restoring peatlands and creating woodlands to protecting wildlife, supporting pollinators and engaging people with the marine environment. His work is rooted in partnership, where councils, charities, landowners and volunteers collaborate to achieve lasting impact on the ground.

Michelle Boyle is Head of Tourism Product Development & Visitor Experience at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Michelle Boyle is Head of Tourism Product Development and Visitor Experience at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council since 2018. Over the past 14 years, Michelle played a leading role in the successful designation of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark. This work involved building strong partnerships across local communities, government and international bodies, while ensuring that the region’s unique geological heritage was not only protected but also celebrated as a driver for sustainable tourism. Michelle is also the Council’s official tourism representative on the European Geopark Network. She is responsible for marketing and PR, industry engagement, management and development of tourism facilities and delivering the Council’s tourism strategy.

For the full line-up and tickets, visit: Sustainable Tourism Network.

Speaking about the upcoming Inspiring Sustainable Tourism conference, Sustainable Tourism Network Director Rob Rankin, said, “Tourists are demanding more environmentally friendly and sustainable products and they are not happy when they can’t get them. So, the tourism industry must step up – both to do the right thing by future generations and to meet their customers’ demand.

“Furthermore, sustainability is about much more than just the environment. It’s tourism that seeks to balance the needs of visitors, the tourism industry, the environment and host communities. It is built on the ‘triple bottom line’ of environmental management, economic health and social responsibility. In essence, sustainable tourism aims to minimise negative impacts, such as environmental degradation, overcrowding and cultural dilution, and maximise positive contributions, like job creation, cultural preservation and environmental and biodiversity protection.”

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “The Council is delighted to support the Sustainable Tourism Conference at Killeavy Castle Estate, a truly fitting venue that showcases the natural beauty and heritage of the Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark. This conference reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable tourism that benefits our local communities, protects our environment and celebrates what makes Mourne Gullion Strangford such a unique destination.”

Killeavy Castle Estate was chosen as the venue for this conference because this business continuously shows great dedication to delivering positive impacts on its local, social and environmental landscape, while also reducing negative ones. Killeavy Castle Estate was also named Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Business of the Year in 2024 and 2025 at the Business Eye Sustainability Awards. It is also a committed member of the Sustainable Tourism Network.

Mick Boyle, owner of Killeavy Castle Estate, said, “We are delighted to be the host venue for this year’s Inspiring Sustainable Tourism conference. Sustainability and regenerative tourism efforts are at the core of everything that we do on our estate, with the aim of providing our guests with luxury Northern Irish hospitality, whilst protecting and indeed enhancing our natural environment.

“This year, we have forged ahead on our sustainability journey, introducing solar panels to our hotel and farm store and we have planted over 27,000 native broadleaf trees on the slopes of Slieve Gullion, which will in time create a biodiversity corridor across the estate and into the adjoining forest park. We look forward to welcoming businesses from across Ireland to attend the conference at Killeavy Castle Estate in January and to showcase what this beautiful region and indeed our own estate, are doing to enhance our natural environment, community and tourism experiences.”

The Sustainable Tourism Network’s mission is to transform the Irish tourism industry into a regenerative business sector that respects and protects the environment, but also supports local communities and makes better places for people to live and work in. Globally, travel and tourism accounted 6.5% of all emissions in 2023*. However, as the largest indigenous industry on the island of Ireland, tourism is vital to the economy and particularly to the economy of rural areas, so it’s critical that this industry becomes a sustainable one.

Early bird tickets are available via TICKET Tailor https://tickets.sustainabletourismnetwork.ie/events/sustainabletourismnetwork/1840354/r/conference2026

Tickets cost €135 + vat (£120 + vat approx). Discounts are available for businesses that sign up for membership of the Sustainable Tourism Network or the Sustainable Business Network.