Our lively and varied social programme is made up of the following events: an Informal Gathering on Sunday 13th July; the Welcome Reception in Treaty City Brewery on Monday 14th July; an evening Poster Reception in the Strand Hotel (main conference venue) on Tuesday 15th July; the Excursions (bus to the Cliffs of Moher and walking tour of Limerick’s Medieval Quarter) on Wednesday 16th July; and the Conference Dinner in House Restaurant on Thursday 17th July. Moreover, lunch will be provided each day for all delegates in the Strand Hotel’s award-winning River Restaurant, providing further networking opportunities.

Each of these events is described below.

Note: The Excursion and Conference Dinner must be added to your main conference registration (for an additional fee).

Informal Gathering (Sunday 13th July)

This gathering will provide a meeting place in Limerick City for delegates arriving on Sunday 13th July or earlier. Details on this location will be released closer to the time.

Welcome Reception (Monday 14th July)

The Welcome Reception will take place in Treaty City Brewery. This is an artisanal craft brewery located in a historical building (over 250 years old) in the heart of Limerick’s Medieval Quarter adjacent to King John’s Castle and overlooking the River Shannon. It is less than 1km from the Strand Hotel conference venue.

This event will have a carnival-style atmosphere with space both inside and outside the brewery building. Beer and wine will be available for delegates, but there is also a full bar menu if any delegate should wish to purchase other drinks themselves (e.g., local craft gins and whiskeys).

Locally-sourced food will also be included, and prepared by award-winning executive chef Keith Piggott as per the following sample menu: Sarsfield braised brisket beef with pickled red onions on a brioche bun; one of mustard pork sausage with crispy onions in a sourdough sub or maple/miso glazed chicken wings; and two of pickled red coleslaw or kachumber salad or wholegrain fusilli feta or lemon & scallion potato salad

Poster Reception (Tuesday 15th July)

This evening Poster Reception will take place in the Strand Hotel, which is the main conference venue. Food and drinks will be provided, where delegates will present posters and network with each other in a friendly setting.

Excursions (Wednesday 16th July)

Two Excursions will take place on Wednesday 16th July, depending on your own preference, and this must be added on to your main conference registration.

Excursion 1: Cliffs of Moher Tour

This is a half-day tour, where delegates will depart by bus from the Strand Hotel conference venue.

The stunning Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 1M tourists each year and voted ‘Ireland’s Best Visitor Attraction’ in The Irish Independent’s annual Reader Travel Awards for 2023. The Cliffs are a “signature point” on the official Wild Atlantic Way tourist trail, and form part of the UNESCO-recognised Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark. The trip to Cliffs will be paired with a stop to experience Irish traditional music with drinks and finger food.

Excursion 2: Walking Tour of Limerick City

This is a shorter tour (approx. 2hrs), where delegates will depart on foot from the Strand Hotel conference venue.

Discover the oldest parts of Limerick City within the medieval quarter in context with the contemporary environment. Landmarks include Thomond Bridge & Toll House (10th century), The Treaty Stone (17th century), King John’s Castle (12th century), one of Ireland’s most iconic medieval castles, and St Mary’s Cathedral (11th century), one of the most important medieval buildings to survive intact in Ireland, which is still performing its original function. The tour will be followed by food and beer in one of Limerick’s traditional pubs.

Conference Dinner (Thursday 17th July)

The Conference Dinner will be in the luxury House Restaurant located along Limerick’s scenic Shannon riverfront with various spaces for food and drinks (Wine Room, Amber, The Terrace). It is less than 500m from the Strand Hotel conference venue.

During the dinner, speeches will be made by members of the Organising Committee and the Statistical Modelling Society Executive Committee, and students will be presented with awards for Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Paper, respectively.

Below is a sample three-course House menu, which is indicative of what will be available for the Conference Dinner.