12 August 2025 – The Irish Strength & Conditioning Conference 2025 brought together leading voices in performance coaching, sports science, and athlete development for two days of knowledge-sharing, networking, and innovation at the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre, Belfast.
Hosted by the Irish Strength & Conditioning Network, in partnership with Ireland Active and REPs Ireland, the event welcomed hundreds of practitioners, coaches, and sports professionals from across Ireland and beyond.
The conference featured a stellar line-up of speakers, including Mike Boyle (founder of Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning), Nick Winkelman (Head of Athletic Performance & Science at IRFU), Prof. Paul Comfort (Professor in Strength and Conditioning at The University of Salford), Stu McMillan (CEO of Altis), Dr. Denise Martin (Lecturer in Sport Performance Analysis at ATU), Paudie Roache (Physical Performance Specialist, previously at Arsenal Women’s FC), David Grey (CEO of David Grey Rehab), and Dr. Jason McGahan (High Performance Manager at Kerry GAA). Topics ranged from the latest in athlete programming and coaching communication to advancements in rehabilitation, women’s sport, and the integration of digital technology in practice.
“The Irish S&C Conference has grown rapidly since its humble beginnings in 2022 in Cork. The event is a key date in the Irish S&C Calendar as one of the few opportunities for the community to come together in a social and collaborative environment and learn from the best practitioners in the field. Partnering with Ireland Active and REPs Ireland allowed us to continue in our growth, aiming to create the best value and most enjoyable conference of its kind in Ireland. We look forward to this continued relationship, which will fuel the future of the Irish S&C Community,” said David Nolan, Co-Director of the Irish Strength & Conditioning Network.
Alan Malone, Registrar of REPs Ireland, emphasised the event’s value for up-and-coming professionals: “It was great to partner with the Irish S&C Network for this year’s S&C Conference. The speakers and quality of partners were of the highest standard and hugely beneficial to the fitness professionals in attendance. REPs Ireland’s mission is to professionalise the fitness industry through the promotion of standards and provide development opportunities. Our partnership with Irish S&C Network we believe helps us on this journey.”
Speaking on the partnership, Karl Dunne, CEO of Ireland Active, commented: “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to raising standards in health, fitness, and performance. The conference is an excellent example of how collaboration across our sector can lead to high-quality learning opportunities that truly benefit professionals and, ultimately, the people they serve. Working with the Irish S&C Network and REPs Ireland allows us to connect our members to the very best in global expertise, while also supporting the development of homegrown talent. We believe this kind of collaboration is essential to strengthening the future of our industry.”
Two Days of Learning and Inspiration
Day 1 highlights included Mike Boyle’s keynote on Updates in Athlete Programming, Nick Winkelman’s session on The Language of Coaching, Prof. Paul Comfort’s deep dive into Weightlifting Derivatives for Sports Performance, and Dr. Jason McGahan’s exploration of The Role of Sport Technology in Developing Athletic Development.
Day 2 began with Mike Boyle continuing his in-depth session from Day 1, followed by Dr. Denise Martin’s S&C 2.0: The Digital Practitioner and Paudie Roache’s session on women’s sport. The conference concluded with Stu McMillan, who closed the event with a powerful discussion on speed development and long-term athletic planning.
Looking Ahead
With overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Irish Strength & Conditioning Network, Ireland Active, and REPs Ireland look forward to building on this success in future editions. For more information about the conference visit: https://www.irishscnetwork.com/conference2025
