Ireland hosts a number of national and international events, the most famous being the St. Patrick’s Festival which attracts thousands of visitors. Other events such as The Ryder Cup, Dublin Horse Show, Galway Races, Rose of Tralee, National Ploughing Championships, Electric Picnic and Fleadhcheoil also draw many tourists who build business trips or holidays around these events. With Speciality Festivals, such as Bord Bia Bloom and Kilkenny Cat Laugh's, there are a wide variety of roles in this vibrant and interesting sector. A vital part of the Live Events sector is business meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions known as (MICE). Ireland hosts many international conferences in our world class facilities such as the The Convention Centre,RDS and Croke Park. These events make a valuable contribution to the economy and accommodation providers, restaurants, taxis, retail outlets and tourist attractions all benefit. Business events are forecast to grow with trade suppliers, Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland's attendance at events such as IMEX America. Numerous other live events, exhibitions and concerts take place throughout the country including weddings and private parties. All these events, whether large or small, offer a rich variety of working environments.
Is this Sector for me?
Working in the live events sector of tourism is an exciting, fast paced and varied career as no two events are the same. Clients rely on your professional expertise to ensure their event, whether a conference, incentive trip, festival or sporting event runs seamlessly.
The nature of the sector requires flexible working hours so you must be adaptable. There is a diverse range of working environments and fantastic travel opportunities. You could be organising an international conference in a city, planning an awards ceremony, setting up a wedding fair, or arranging a group tour to the races. The possibilities are endless. There are many different roles but each requires excellent people skills and task skills such as communication, leadership, problem solving, attention to detail, time management and the ability to work under pressure.
Your work will involve meeting different people from all walks of life, cultures and backgrounds so language skills are an advantage. You will play an essential role and gain great satisfaction in being part of a team which puts together a flawless and unforgettable event.
What roles can I choose?
In this sector you could be employed by an organisation, work freelance or even set up your own business. Event management companies, convention centres, sporting arenas, universities, festivals and concert halls all require people to manage their events. Behind each great event is a multidisciplinary team of professionals who collaborate to ensure that every detail is planned and executed to perfection, guaranteeing a memorable experience for the client.
The Events Manager has overall responsibility for the entire operation, and requires excellent leadership, communication and planning skills. The Venue Manager coordinates the logistics of the event, transforming the space to create the right atmosphere and liaises with suppliers.
The Events/Conference Coordinator pays attention to every detail and juggles multiple tasks to ensure the event runs according to plan. The Catering Manager organises and executes all aspects of an events catering. Many weddings now employ the services of a Wedding Planner. Meet in Ireland offer professional advice and support and work in partnership with Professional Conference Organisers.
In addition to these roles there are often staff employed on a temporary basis to help out and many events also thrive on the enthusiasm and energy of volunteers who form an essential part of the event management team.
Find out more about what it’s like to study Event Management and Niall’s experience as an Event Management student in Switzerland. See how Eibhlís turned her passion and voluntary experience into her career as the Events Manager at Guinness Storehouse.
Begin your career journey today
There are many different routes to join the ever changing Live Events sector. Any work experience will give you valuable skills.. If you are keen to get started explore entry requirements for Events and Promotions Manager jobs.
You may prefer to go to college where there are a wide range of courses at different levels. You could start on a one year Event Management with PR & Digital Marketing course leading to Arts Event Management Advanced and progress to many CAO courses such as Arts Management. If you would like to move into the industry or upskill there are many courses available at Postgraduate level such as an Event Management Conversion Course, International Event Management and Cultural Event Management.
Working in the industry opens many doors and offers great potential to move into different sectors. As well as working in Live Events there are a plethora of career opportunities in hospitality and tourism.
