Taoiseach to host fifth annual Shared Island Forum

Taoiseach to host fifth annual Shared Island Forum

• From: Department of the Taoiseach

• Published on: 29 June 2026
• Last updated on: 29 June 2026

Over 220 civic and political representatives from across the island participating

Forum takes place as Government allocations from Shared Island Fund reach €1 billion

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will today, 29 June, host the fifth Shared Island Forum, taking place at the Windmill Quarter, in the Dublin Docklands.

The Taoiseach will give the keynote address at the forum outlining progress under the initiative on working with all communities and political traditions on the island to build a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.

This year's forum follows the recent Government announcement of a further €377 million in allocations to 12 major all-island investment projects, bringing total commitments from the Government's Shared Island Fund to date to €1 billion.

Over 220 political, civic, community and economic stakeholders from across the island of Ireland will attend the event, which is also being livestreamed online.

The forum will feature a musical performance by young songwriters and musicians from Laois, Offaly and across Northern Ireland from the Isle of Song project.

There will also be two panel discussions: the first panel will discuss the benefits, opportunities and challenges of investment in infrastructure and sustainability across the island of Ireland; the second panel will explore the concept of 'a shared home place' and what this can mean on a personal, local or island-wide level.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

"At the Shared Island Forum today, I will be setting out the sustained progress we have made since I established the Government's Shared Island Initiative nearly six years ago, and the important work underway in connecting people and communities across the island.

"Following Government approval last week of allocations of over €377 million from the Shared Island Fund, our total commitments from the fund are now more than €1 billion, with nearly 50 major Shared Island projects underway. This is tangible investment for the future of the island.

"All-island cooperation is deepening across virtually every sector. From enterprise and education to research, tourism and climate action, Shared Island programmes are enabling partners to work together more effectively, deliver greater impact and create lasting benefits for communities across the island.

"We are also advancing the next chapter of our dialogue strand through the Shared Home Place programme, which I announced last year. New programme elements are now being rolled out through the Heritage Council, Coimisiún na Meán, Creative Ireland, and through the Diaspora Voices initiative led by our Mission Network. These programmes will offer opportunities to explore the diverse heritage, history and culture of our island home and invite reflection on what a shared home place means for people across the island today, and what it could mean in the future.

"As Ireland takes up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union later this week, the forum also provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of the EU over decades and to this day, in supporting peace and prosperity across the island of Ireland, including through successive PEACE programmes."

Notes:

• The Shared Island Forum will be livestreamed and can be viewed here.
• The forum is an annual event bringing together Shared Island partners and political, civic, community and economic stakeholders to reflect on the initiative and priorities for the year ahead.
• This year's forum is moderated by broadcaster Bryan Dobson and will include thematic panel discussions on 'Shared Infrastructure and Sustainability Opportunities', and the 'Shared Home Place dialogue programme'.
• A new online Shared Island Research repository bringing together over 50 publications under the initiative to date will be launched on www.gov.ie/sharedisland to coincide with the forum.
• There will be a cultural performance by Music Generation's Isle of Song, a songwriting project for young people from Laois, Offaly and across Northern Ireland.
• Panel speakers include:

- Marie Ward, Chief Executive, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

- Tim Murphy, Head of Port Engineering, Port of Cork

- John Glass, Director of Infrastructure and Projects, Translink

- Julie Thompson, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland

- Kieran Donoghue, Chief Executive, Invest Northern Ireland

- Lynn Scarff, Executive Director, Royal Irish Academy

- Michele Bryans, Chief Executive, EastSide Partnership

- Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive, Maritime Belfast Trust

- Gabija Gataveckaite, Dublin Correspondent, BBC News

- Enda McEvoy, Irish Michelin star winning chef

- Rosemary Jenkinson, Playwright

Further information on the Shared Island Initiative is available at https://www.gov.ie/sharedisland.