Roscommon woman co-organiser of first-ever TEDx midlands event
Roscommon native MaryJo Neilan, co-organiser of TEDxAthlone.
With just one day to go, the Midlands is preparing to host its first-ever TEDx event, with TEDxAthlone taking place tomorrow evening, Thursday, February 12, at 7 p.m. in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone.
TEDxAthlone is an independently organised TEDx event, hosted under licence from TED, bringing people together to share ideas worth spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California over 30 years ago, TED has grown globally to support ideas through multiple initiatives.
The inaugural event in the Midlands will bring together nine speakers from across Ireland to share ideas and perspectives on creativity, innovation, leadership, culture, sport, medicine and technology.
The programme positions Athlone at the centre of a wider national conversation on ideas and change, marking a significant cultural moment for the town and the wider Midlands region.
Since the event was first announced late last year, the full speaker line-up has now been confirmed, with contributors travelling from across the country to take part.
The 2026 theme, The Ripple Effect, explores how small ideas and actions can create meaningful change — from personal stories and creative innovation to community impact and regional connection.
Speakers on the night include Athlone native and vascular surgeon Dr Niamh Hynes, iRadio presenter and content creator Dave Duke, and Midlands–North-West MEP and former RTÉ journalist Ciaran Mullooly, alongside voices from sport, media, business, fashion and technology.
Speaking ahead of the event, organisers Orla Thornton, Director of Marketing and Communications at TUS Athlone, and MaryJo Neilan, co-organiser of TEDxAthlone and Castlecoote local, said the focus of the event goes beyond the stage.
“This isn’t just about hosting an event. It’s about creating meaningful connections between the town, the university and the wider Midlands, and giving people a reason to come together around ideas. Bringing TEDx to Athlone for the first time is about strengthening that sense of place and showing that important conversations can happen here.” The inaugural TEDx event is almost sold out.
A limited number of tickets are available via deancrowetheatre.com. Student discounts are available with a valid student ID. Follow @TEDXAthlone on Instagram.
