8th International Swift Conference 2026
ATU Mayo Campus
Castlebar
County Mayo
Ireland
F23 X853
27 May 2026
to
29 May 2026
About
The 8th International Swift Conference will be held in the West of Ireland in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, 27 to 29 May 2026. It is hosted by Swift Conservation Ireland/Mayo at the ATU (Atlantic Technological University) Mayo Campus.
It is the continuation of the biennial International Swift Conferences that started in 2010.
2010 and 2012 in Berlin, Germany
2014 Cambridge, England
2016 Szczecin, Poland
2018 Tel Aviv, Israel
2022 Segovia, Spain
2024 Trieste, Italy
The Conference brings together Swift enthusiasts from around the world including conservationists, researchers, ornithologists, citizen scientists and many more.
ATU is generously providing the Mayo Campus as the venue which is a short walk from the centre of Castlebar town.
The Conference format will follow that of previous years with contributions centred on Swifts and related subjects. Participants will be invited to submit abstracts of their work, and an International Programme Committee will select those for oral and poster presentation.
We welcome contributions on conservation, biology, rehabilitation, migration, citizen science, activity reports of associations and any other topics dealing with Swifts.
Following the tradition of past conferences, the location of the next conference will be selected in the last session of the final day, with voting by the people present.
Anyone interested in hosting the 2028 Conference should email swiftconservationireland@gmail.com
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful County Mayo in the West of Ireland.
Go raibh maith agat!
Sponsors
Committees
Local Organising Committee:
Lynda Huxley - Chair, Swift Conservation Ireland
Dr Yvonne McDermott – ATU Mayo
Jarek Majkusiak – Swift Conservation Ireland
Anne Wiseman – ATU Mayo
International Programme Committee:
Lynda Huxley – Chair, Ireland
Louise Bentley - Secretary, UK
Brian Cahalane, Northern Ireland
Michael Helm, USA
Dr Lyndon Kearsley, Belgium
Edward Mayer, UK
Gloria Molina, Spain
Dr Yvonne McDermott, Ireland
Kevin Prince, Italy
Registration
Student Registration Fee €100 per person
Cost per person: €145 Early Bird Registration until 31st December 2025 and then €200 per person.
Cost for Field Trip per person: €15
Payment: Payment for Conference and Field Trip is required at time of registration.
Cancellation and Refund Policy: For cancellation by the 30th of April, 2026, we will reimburse 50% of the fee paid; for cancellation from 30th April to 15th May, 25% will be reimbursed. After that date no refund is possible. In the event of cancellation for very serious reasons (e.g. hospitalisation, etc) please email swiftconservationireland@gmail. com and the organising committee will consider if an exception to the rule can be made.
Presentations
Details on how to submit an abstract for conference Presentations will be posted in the first week of October 2025.
Programme
This is a Draft of the Conference Programme and the format is currently under review.
Keynote speakers (35 minutes + 4 minutes questions)
Presentations (17 minutes + 3 minutes questions) or (5 minutes + questions)
Posters (on display in the conference hall)
Tuesday 26 May
16:00 - 18:00 Registration in ATU Mayo Reception area
Wednesday 27 May
09:00 - 16:30 Registration and Presentations
Thursday 28 May
10:30 - 16:30 Presentations
Friday 29 May
10:30 - 18:30 Presentations and Closing Event (buffet and traditional Irish music)
Things to do!
There are amazing things to do and see in Mayo.
Lots of information can be found at this link https://www.mayo.ie/things-to-do
Castlebar is the County town of Mayo and there's always lots to see and do.
A list of places to eat, drink etc. will be posted before January 2026, in the meantime:
You can find out more at this link https://www.castlebarmayo.com/
and also at this link https://www.discoverireland.ie/castlebar
Contact
All queries: swiftconservationireland@gmail.com