TEDx is coming to the Midlands

For the first time ever, TEDx is coming to the Midlands! Join us at the Dean Crowe Theatre for an evening of bold ideas, powerful talks and inspiring conversations that will ignite curiosity and spark change.

TEDxAthlone will bring together speakers from across the region and beyond to share fresh perspectives on creativity, innovation, community and resilience. Each talk is designed to inform, inspire and challenge how we see the world.

Attendees can also look forward to entertainment throughout the evening to celebrate this landmark event.

Be part of this milestone moment and leave with ideas and connections that will resonate across the Midlands and beyond.

TEDX Athlone takes place on Thursday 12th February 2026 at the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone from 7pm

Event Overview

TEDxAthlone is an independently organised TED event hosted at the Dean Crowe Theatre. The 2026 theme, “The Ripple Effect,” explores how one idea, one act, or one change can transform everything around it. Change doesn’t always start with a grand gesture, it often begins with a single moment, a simple idea, or one courageous act. From that point, it spreads outward, touching lives, reshaping communities, and inspiring new possibilities.

At TEDxAthlone 2026 “The Ripple Effect”, we explore how change moves through our world from personal transformation and creative innovation to cultural evolution and regional renewal. From the heart of the Midlands, our speakers will share stories of how their ideas and actions have created ripples of impact across industries, communities, and within themselves. Together, we’ll discover that even the smallest spark of change can grow into something far greater than we ever imagined Our inaugural TEDxAthlone event brings together nine influential speakers spanning politics, academia, sport, media, medicine, fashion, culture and technology.

Speaker Line-Up

1.Ashley McDonnell – Founder, Ireland Fashion Week Ashley McDonnell is an Irish entrepreneur at the intersection of luxury and innovation. With over a decade of global experience across LVMH, Dior, Google, and PUIG, she has led digital transformation initiatives from Paris and Geneva to key luxury markets in China and the Middle East. In 2025, she launched the inaugural Ireland Fashion Week, celebrating Irish creativity and sustainability, and is the founder of Tech Powered Luxury, a platform exploring the future of fashion, technology, and culture.

2.Dr Niamh Hynes – Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon, Clinical Lecturer & Principal Investigator Dr Niamh Hynes is a leading vascular surgeon with more than 12 years of clinical experience, Co-Founder of the Western Vascular Institute and a Clinical Lecturer at NUI Galway. A Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator, she leads a major CÚRAM–Boston Scientific research programme and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers. With multiple patents and 18 international awards, she is one of Ireland’s most accomplished medical innovators. Her TEDx talk examines the future of vascular science and life-saving surgical advances

3.Ciaran Mullooly – Member of the European Parliament Ciaran Mullooly is an MEP for Midlands–North-West and a former RTÉ journalist with 26 years’ experience. His talk explores how grassroots, community-driven ideas inspire national and European change, drawing from the Lough Ree Access for All project and his European Parliament work on cohesion policy.

4. Athlone Town Women’s Football Team – 2023 & 2025 FAI Women’s Cup Champions Athlone Town Women’s team is one of the most exciting and accomplished forces in Irish women’s football, having won the FAI Women’s Cup in 2023 and again in 2025. Their achievements represent a landmark for women’s sport in the Midlands. Their presence at TEDx Athlone brings a powerful message about leadership, resilience and the transformative impact of women succeeding at the highest levels.

5. Dr Aoife Lane – Academic, Researcher & Leader in Gender Equality in Sport Named among the “50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport 2025,” Dr Aoife Lane is a national leader in gender equality, sport and health. With a background in sport science and public health, she has dedicated her career to improving visibility, participation and leadership opportunities for women and girls in sport. A co-founder of the Women’s Gaelic Players Association, her work shapes research, policy and societal change.

6. Dave Duke – Social Media Creator & Radio Presenter Dave Duke is a multi-award-winning radio presenter and creator. Best known for iRadio’s drivetime show “Dave & Fionnuala,” he has built a major online following through humorous reflections on Irish culture. His TEDx talk, “What It Means to Be Irish and Why It’s Important,” explores identity, belonging and cultural connection.

7. Barbara Quinn and Ray Bell bring together global technology leadership and regional innovation to examine how access to STEM can ripple far beyond its starting point.

As programme manager for Ericsson’s INFUSE initiative, Barbara has helped engage tens of thousands of young people in STEM, software engineering, and ICT with Athlone at the heart of a programme driving long-term opportunity through education.

Ray Bell, head of information systems with Offaly County Council, works at the intersection of education, government, and industry to support innovation, talent development, and inclusive growth across the Midlands.

Together, they invite us to consider what becomes possible when STEM education is accessible, inclusive, and rooted in community.

8. Andrea Woods – Award-Winning Content Creator & Entertainer Winner of the Hayu STELLAR InstaStar Award for Comedy InstaStar of the Year 2025 (sponsored by Hunky Dorys), Andrea Woods is an award-winning digital creator known for her comedic, authentic storytelling. With a loyal online community and regular media appearances, her TEDx talk, “Rising to Success,” shares her journey from a shy, bullied teenager to a nationally recognised creator – a story focused on resilience, authenticity and self-belief.

9. Gareth Sheridan Gareth Sheridan is the founder and CEO of Nutriband, an international health and wellness company specialising in innovative transdermal products. Originally from Ireland and now based between Dublin and the United States, Gareth has grown Nutriband from a start-up concept to a publicly listed company on the NASDAQ. His work focuses on advancing consumer health technologies, strategic innovation and global brand development. Gareth has been recognised for his entrepreneurial drive and leadership across the health, wellness and pharmaceutical sectors.