{"id":586,"date":"2025-12-22T12:40:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T12:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lisariemers.com\/?p=586"},"modified":"2025-12-22T12:49:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T12:49:55","slug":"connecting-at-congregation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lisariemers.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/22\/connecting-at-congregation\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting at #CongRegation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In November I went to hang out with ~97 complete strangers, 1 comms pro who’d told me about it, 1 client I’d not yet met in person, and 1 person who pulled together an incredible<\/em> unconference, #CongRegation<\/a>, in the village of Cong in the West of Ireland. I came home feeling remarkably restored, and it’s taken me a while to gather my thoughts on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Down<\/a>
Not reflective of the weekend, but perhaps what I was expecting when I heard of Cong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The logistics:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How I heard about #CongRegation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early November, I met Padraig McKeon at Turbocharge<\/a> and we talked, amongst other things, about CongRegation. If I recall correctly, he described it as an unconference where you spend the weekend talking to others and sharing stories, then go to the pub to continue the conversation? I was hooked immediately on the idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It transpired that the degrees of Irish separation appear to hit differently too; Padraig knows Dermot<\/a> who I’ve been working with remotely this year. As we chatted, it turned out that they’re also both<\/em> regular attendees at Congregation! I spoke to Dermot a few days later, who was also kind enough to give me a bit of a run-down of a bit more detail of what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later I submitted my blog post on the subject of chaos<\/a>, a subject dear to my heart. Eoin<\/a> confirmed I had a spot so I made my travel arrangements and was good to go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How I got there<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On Friday 28th November, I flew from Stansted to Knock (aka confusingly advertised as the West of Ireland airport on the screens at the airport), picked up my hire car from the airport, and drove to the outskirts of Cong. I was staying in a lovely B&B, Ballnamona House<\/a> that was an 8 minute drive, or 1 hour’s walk, into the centre. After my Ryanair flight was inevitably delayed, Joan kindly made sure I got to Ashford Castle on time for the first part of the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I then made use of taxis to get to and from the village as I didn’t much fancy the stomp, particularly as I’d once again injured my toe, although not as badly as the last time I flew with a broken foot<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I saw at #CongRegation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A night at Ashford Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I love getting to explore new places, and Ashford Castle<\/a> might be the fanciest hotel I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting. It’s been renovated to a really high standard<\/a> (and is apparently where Rory McIlroy got married).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Beautiful<\/a>
Enormous beautiful Christmas tree that scales two floors past the gallery \/ mezzanine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I walked in past the massive Christmas tree to a drinks reception in the Billiard Room, with a full size table taking a large proportion of the space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand<\/a>
Cinema, billiards or rest rooms? What a decision<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We made our way up to the beautifully appointed cinema, helped ourselves to popcorn, and settled in to hear from 4 speakers about chaos, after a glorious introduction from Eoin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Man<\/a>
Eoin on stage in the cinema at Ashford Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first speaker was William O’Connor<\/a>, a neuroscientist who explained, amongst other things, the concept of neuroplasticity<\/a> which finally clicked, as it’s something I’ve been learning about over the last few years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
William O’Connor on stage with some suggested reading<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I first heard of the concept of neuroplasticity when I went to hear Ruby Wax<\/a> talking about mental health as part of her shows related to her books Sane New World and Frazzled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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