Retrofit Ready Conference Concludes with Inspiring End-of-Term Event
- Owen McConnon
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
The Retrofit Ready End-of-Term Conference took place on Monday, 22nd September at the Ramor Arts Centre in Virginia, bringing together community members, stakeholders, and industry experts to celebrate the progress and achievements of the programme.
The event was marked by insightful contributions from distinguished guest speakers, including Niamh Smyth, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and Hugh Wallace, award-winning architect and presenter of The Great House Revival on RTÉ. Both emphasised the importance of community-led approaches in Ireland’s climate action journey and highlighted the opportunities retrofitting presents for building sustainable, energy-efficient homes.
Highlights from the Day
The conference was well attended by community representatives and organisations engaged in retrofit work across the region:
Community Retrofit Champions, including Owen McConnon (Cavan & Monaghan) and Luke Tarmey (Sligo & Leitrim), joined Hugh Wallace and Minister Smyth for a panel highlighting the role of local champions in driving retrofit initiatives
Pictured at the Retrofit Ready end of term conference in the Ramor Arts Centre, Virginia are from left: Owen McConnon, Community Retrofit Champion, Cavan and Monaghan, Hugh Wallace, Award Winning Architect and presenter of the Great House Revival, Niamh Smyth, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Luke Tarmey, Community Retrofit Champion, Sligo & Leitrim. Hugh Wallace also shared his expert knowledge with the audience, offering practical insights into retrofitting practices and their long-term benefits.
Hugh Wallace, Award Winning Architect and presenter of the Great House Revival extends his knowledge of retrofitting to the audience at the Retrofit Ready end of term conference in the Ramor Arts Center, Virginia. Members of the Local Development Companies Network (LDCN), including CEOs and programme officers from across Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, and Sligo, participated in the discussions, underlining the collaborative effort behind Retrofit Ready.
From left: Kilian Cawley, CEO, Monaghan Integrated Development, Máirin Ni Cuireáin, CEO LDCN, Hugh Wallace, Awarding Winning Architect and Presenter of the Great House Revival, Niamh Smyth, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, John Feerick, CEO, Sligo Leader Partnership, Michelle Mullally, Programmes, Impact and Communications Officer, LDCN, Chris Gonley, CEO Leitrim Development Company and Terry Hyland, CEO, Cavan County Local Development. A lively panel discussion featured contributions from Chris Gonley (Leitrim Development Company, Moderator), Eve Hughes (ATU Sligo), Donal Quinn (Warmer Homes Leitrim), Francis McCarron (Monaghan Integrated Development), alongside guest speaker Hugh Wallace.
Award winning Architect and presenter of the Great House Revival on RTE 1 television, Hugh Wallace and Terry Hyland, CEO, Cavan County Local Development arrive in style at the End of Term Conference Staff from County Cavan Local Development (CCLD) were also in attendance, supporting the project and celebrating its achievements.
Looking Ahead
The Retrofit Ready project has been an important step in building awareness, skills, and community engagement around home energy upgrades. The conference reflected not just the end of a successful term, but also the beginning of ongoing conversations and actions that will help communities transition to a more sustainable future.
CCLD is proud to have been part of this journey and looks forward to continuing work with partners, communities, and households to make retrofitting accessible, practical, and impactful for all.