Bringing together key stakeholders, industry leaders, innovators and policymakers for a third landmark event – the MMC Ireland 2025 Conference was declared a resounding success.

Held on 11-12 March at the Johnstown Estate, Enfield – the conference drew a diverse and sizeable audience. From construction clients and housebuilders to offsite manufacturers and digital technology providers – all delegates and exhibitors were eager to engage in meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Held over two days at The Johnstown Estate, the event served as a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and strategic collaboration to accelerate the adoption of offsite and industrialised construction. The MMC Ireland National Conference has established itself as a key event in the industry, bringing together professionals, policymakers, and innovators to advance the discussion on modern methods of construction (MMC).

Attendees commended the conference for its quality of speakers and seamless organisation. One delegate remarked: “Overall I really enjoyed the conference and gained excellent insight from a significant number of stakeholders.” Another echoed this sentiment, adding: “The level of knowledge and debate at the conference was very impressive.”

Chaired by Darren Richards from offsite experts, Cogent Consulting – the positivity surrounding the event did not go unnoticed with a deluge of support on LinkedIn as well as the formal feedback following the event. “It was a fantastic conference, very well organised with great speakers. One of the best events I have been to in years!” Another delegate added: “The Radar team were the most willing hosts, and I could not fault their enthusiasm, energy and organisation. The whole event was professional and fun – a combination many fail to achieve.”

Nicola McKay, Belfast Studio Director for HLM Architects concluded: “A key takeaway from the conference was how Ireland is learning from the rest of the world, exploring lessons learnt from the UK, Europe, and the US to refine its approach. This knowledge exchange and collaboration is crucial for ensuring that MMC is implemented effectively.

Anne Daw, Head of MMC Delivery at HLM Architects added. “The investment in research and policy development of the Irish government is commendable,” said Anne. “They have picked up the key issues quickly and put actions in place to advance the development of MMC at all levels.

“That energy and clarity has encouraged the industry to respond with their own investment, challenging traditional approaches and bringing innovation to the table, particularly in the areas of digital innovation and sustainability. MMC Ireland 2025 provided an excellent forum that brought together all the key stakeholders and facilitated meaningful discussions across a broad range of topics. The best part, however, was meeting industry peers face-to-face, forming personal connections that will drive forward future innovations.”

A word from the top
MMC Ireland’s Chief Executive, Paul Tierney, reflected on the success of the event, the key themes that resonated with delegates and the factors driving Ireland’s leadership in MMC. Central to success in Ireland has been the strong collaboration between government and industry, the growing focus on carbon optimisation and the international reach of Irish companies in the MMC sector.

“The event went very well, said Paul. “We’ve had a lot of feedback from the delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and panellists, and it has all been very positive. Many delegates have said they’re looking forward to next year, and they’ve really praised the quality of the speakers and their content. So overall it went very well, and I’m very happy.”

Key themes and topics that resonated with people throughout the conference included digital and industrialised construction, with AI all very prominent. “We saw a really strong demonstration of live digital twin technology in operation which is at the final stages of going live. That was presented by HLM Architects and Cairn Homes, and I have to say, it was really impressive. In my opinion, it’s a great template that could be rolled out across the UK, particularly within local authorities.

“Another major theme was the growing momentum behind carbon and sustainable construction, led by Sisk. They gave an excellent presentation on how they evaluate projects from a carbon optimisation perspective. That was presented by Sarah-Jane Pisciotti and Juan Morillas, and it was very insightful. It really highlighted the increasing importance of carbon footprints in project evaluations, not just for Sisk, but also for their clients.

“A final standout aspect was the number of presentations from government representatives. The Department of Housing and Construct Innovate discussed the growing support for MMC from the Irish government. They also outlined their plans to standardise MMC manufacturing details, which will be open sourced to the market. This is a huge opportunity for both new entrants and existing companies that may not have the resources to go through an Agrément certification process or a BOPAS accreditation process. With these standardised details, companies that follow them will have built-in accreditation. That’s groundbreaking to me, and it’s a fully government-funded initiative, which is really exciting.”

With MMC doing particularly well and its profile rising, does Ireland captured something special and what is the secret to its success? “I think it’s led by a combination of factors,” said Paul. I’ve spent 20 years working in the UK, and I’ve recently moved back to Ireland, where I now spend at least half my time. Through my role with MMC Ireland, I’ve been working closely with the Irish government, particularly on residential projects but also in other sectors.

“I had never worked so closely with the Irish government before and I have to say, I’ve been really impressed. Not just by the politicians, but especially by the principals within the civil service in those departments. If I compare Ireland to the UK, I think Ireland has the advantage of being more agile. We are a smaller country, and that allows for greater flexibility. The system is built on trust and relationships, and the government genuinely wants industry involvement.

“They’re not afraid to admit they don’t have all the answers, and they actively seek input from industry. It’s a true collaboration, and through organisations like MMC Ireland, that trust has been built up. While it’s a small island, its reach is global. Exporting is in the DNA of many Irish companies. A lot of organisations, including those I’ve worked with in the past, have been exporting to the UK for the last 20 years, so while the Irish market itself is relatively small, the market for Irish businesses is global.

“Irish companies like Errigal, Clancy, Jones Engineering, and Mercury are market leaders in data centres worldwide. The buildings they manufacture, and construct are all built using MMC. These companies think globally, and the government is leading the way in helping the industry become more sustainable.

Government seal of approval
Shortly before Paul Tierney’s closing comments, the audience heard from Marian Harkin, Ireland’s Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Quoting her relative lack of knowledge of the offsite sector, Marian credited the speakers over the two days for breaking down complex subjects into something easier to understand and promised further government backing. “I’m just two weeks into the job, and while I’m immersing myself in plans, programmes, and policy documents, I find – personally – that one of the best ways for me to learn is by attending conferences like this,” said Marian. “Where I can hear directly from the experts and from those who truly understand this sector.

“From everything I’ve seen and heard, this event has gone from strength to strength over the years. I look forward to attending in my capacity as Minister in the coming years, where I hope to ask increasingly intelligent questions, and perhaps answer a few of them too. Although this is my first time attending this conference, I understand that it plays a central role in bringing together representatives from industry, further and higher education, and government to collaborate in pursuit of our shared goal, to advance modern methods of construction in Ireland.”

Closing the successful two-day event Paul Tierney said: “This is the most successful National Conference to date in terms of engagement, speaker content and industry support. Momentum for this annual event grows year on year and we are able to use it as a catalyst for collaboration throughout the MMC supply chain and right up to senior levels in government. The event is a testament to the MMC Ireland Steering Group and the vision and ambition that we have to lead construction sector innovation.  Roll on 2026 when we will be able to demonstrate further progress in the uptake of MMC and offsite technology application.”

You can find out more about MMC Ireland at: www.mmcireland.ie