The County and City Management Association in Ireland (CCMA-Ireland) has been selected to host the 2026 Global Exchange. Join ICMA members on this unforgettable experience in the Emerald Isle. The exchange will take place March 22-26, 2026, with an optional experience on March 27, 2026. 

All ICMA members are invited to participate in this opportunity for cross-border collaboration. Attendees will interact with Irish local government leaders and staff and learn local government practices in Ireland that are scalable and replicable in other contexts. 

Attendees will take part in city walking tours, municipal exchanges, and interactions with CCMA-Ireland members. Participating ICMA members will learn about major themes and local government challenges in Ireland such as:

• Mobility planning.
• Smart cities.
• Community redevelopment and sustainable infrastructure.
• Climate action and adaptation.
• Energy transition.

The exchange’s home base will be Dublin City with site visits and meetings within Dublin and excursions to Limerick and Ireland’s Midlands. Note that the schedule is subject to change. A draft schedule is available at the link below. 

The delegation’s visit to Ireland’s Midlands will focus on their energy transition to a low-carbon economy and support for communities impacted by job loss through workforce retraining and community redevelopment. In Limerick, the group will learn about best practices in large, international event management with the 2027 Ryder Cup and a discussion about Limerick’s redevelopment and transition to become the first Irish Local Authority with a directly elected mayor. 

In addition to Limerick and The Midlands, members may choose to attend the optional day on March 27 and visit Belfast in Northern Ireland to learn about best practices in regional collaboration across borders with the All-Ireland Local Government Forum. 

Join us for a once in a lifetime experience to connect with ICMA member colleagues, expand your network, and broaden your horizons. You will return with a new perspective on local government and new ideas to take back to your community. 

Complete the expression of interest form by September 30, 2025, and stay tuned for registration information coming in October 2025. Note that the expression of interest form is behind a member login as ICMA membership is required for this event. If you are not yet a member and are interested in joining, visit the ICMA website.

Event Details:

Dublin, Ireland: March 22-27, 2026

View the Draft Schedule

Complete the Expression of Interest Form

For questions or additional information, contact Jeanette Gass, senior program manager, strategic relationships, member support and advancement at jgass@icma.org.

Image 1: Grafton Street, Dublin, Courtesy of Dublin City Council
Image 2: Bicycling in front of Adare Manor, Limerick, Courtesy of County Limerick
Image 3: Barley Harbour, Newtowncashel, Courtesy of County Longford