Rotary International today (Tuesday Feb 3) announced Dublin as the winner of the provisional bid to hold its annual international convention 7-11 June 2031.
It will be the first time that Rotary’s international convention will be hosted in Ireland and up to 20,000 Rotary members and participants are expected to attend the organisation’s 122nd annual convention.
The winning bid was led by Rotary clubs across Ireland, with strong support from Fáilte Ireland’s Dublin Convention Bureau, and the Royal Dublin Society, where the five-day gathering will be based.
According to Rotary International, the event is projected to generate an estimated €68 million for the local economy from the convention itself, with additional economic impact anticipated as many delegates extend their stay in Ireland.
Rotary, which has clubs in almost every country in the world, describes itself as a membership service organisation whose members develop and support sustainable, community driven projects in the areas of health, education and the environment. Some of the many projects Rotary clubs in Ireland are involved in include the Rotary Tree of Remembrance, a Youth Leadership Development competition, Bikes for Africa and Just 1 Life, a road safety awareness programme for teenagers (see details below).
Often described by attendees as a “mini-United Nations”, delegates from over 140 countries are expected to attend the convention, which will include an exhibition of over 100 humanitarian projects, workshops, presentations and entertainment. Speakers at previous Rotary international conventions have included philanthropist Bill Gates, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and UN General Secretary General António Guterres.
“Rotary conventions are powerful global gatherings where people unite to exchange ideas, celebrate service, and drive new thinking toward a healthier, more peaceful future,” said Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. “We’re thrilled for our members to experience the hospitality of Dublin and the whole of Ireland when we come together at the RDS in 2031.”
Garth Arnold, Co-Chair of the Bid Committee said Rotary club members in Ireland are thrilled to be bringing the international convention to Ireland for the first time. “Rotary in Ireland has a long and proud history of service—Dublin Rotary Club, founded in 1911, was the first Rotary club established outside North America—yet we have never hosted the Rotary International Convention. Bringing this global gathering to Ireland has been a long‑held ambition of our members, and we are now very much looking forward to realising that ambition in 2031.”
According to Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development with Fáilte Ireland, the Rotary International Convention is projected to be one of Dublin’s most significant events in 2031.
“Fáilte Ireland is pleased that Dublin has been selected to host the Rotary International Convention in 2031. It is the largest convention ever secured through Fáilte Ireland and a major milestone for Ireland’s business events sector. With up to 20,000 international delegates expected, securing the convention is a testament to the Team Ireland approach underpinned in the Business Events 2030 strategy, which was launched by Minister Peter Burke in 2025.”
Rotary in Ireland
Ireland’s 1,500 Rotary members belong to 67 clubs and volunteer their expertise and time to a range of local and international projects, such as;
The Rotary Tree of Remembrance, which gives people the opportunity to remember loved ones in a simple way during the Christmas period by placing their message on a yellow ribbon on the Tree.
The Youth Leadership Development Competition involves Rotary Clubs running competitions in and between schools. Twenty future young leaders, North and South, are selected to represent Ireland at the Euroscola event in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This just took place last week.
School Bikes Africa involves the collection of unwanted bicycles nationwide, refurbishment by prison inmates and then shipping to The Gambia for use by secondary school children
Just 1 Life, a safe driving awareness programme for secondary school students
Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, improve maternal and child health, grow local economies and protect the environment. Over US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation to support these programs worldwide.
