We’re pleased to share that The Real Deal 2026 is returning on Wednesday, May 6th, at the renowned Goffs in Co. Kildare.

The Real Deal is where Ireland’s business leaders come to make better decisions. A one-day event built around real stories, real lessons, and the conversations that actually move businesses forward.

In partnership with Renatus and Bank of Ireland, we’re proud to host the event once again. Each year, over 1,000 founders, CEOs and investors attend – making it one of the most valuable rooms for Irish business leaders and a standout date in the SME calendar. Our thanks as always to our sponsors The Currency, Byrne Wallace Shields, The Panel, Nostra, Davy, Howden Ireland and Polestar Ireland for their valued support in 2026.

Why attend?

  • Learn directly from founders who have scaled, exited, or raised capital.
  • Hear what actually worked (and what didn’t) – no theory, no fluff.
  • Connect with peers facing the same growth and leadership challenges.
  • Step back from the day-to-day and think strategically about your next move.

Speakers & Panels

We’re delighted to welcome Tommy Kelly – Entrepreneur and Former CEO of ESW – as our keynote speaker. He’ll open the day in a special ‘Legend of Business’ interview with returning host Matt Cooper. Tommy founded ESW (formerly eShopWorld), scaling it from a Dublin start-up into a global ecommerce leader, and now, as Co-Chairman, invests in and advises a range of Irish businesses such as Sherry FitzGerald and Gym+Coffee.

He will lead an exceptional panel which so far features:

  • Sean O’Connor, Co-Founder of STATSports, who will join our ‘M&A in Sport’ panel discussion.
  • Mickey O’Rourke, Founder and CEO of Setanta Sports, now Premier Sports. Mickey will join our ‘M&A in Sport’ panel alongside Sean.
  • Áine Denn, Entrepreneur and previously C0-Founder of Altify, who will join our ‘The Saas Journey’ panel discussion.

*Stay tuned for further details and our final speaker announcement. 

This year’s event will once again be expertly moderated by the brilliant Matt Cooper, who brings clarity, pace, and insight to every session.

If you’re building, scaling, or thinking about what comes next – this is a day worth stepping out for.

For more information visit www.therealdealevent.com