Lord Mayor Welcomes 300 Global Educators to Drumcondra for ATEE 2025

As Lord Mayor of Dublin, it was an honour to welcome more than 300 educators, researchers, and policymakers from 56 countries to Drumcondra and the Marino Institute of Education for the 2025 Annual Conference of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE).

Hosted on Griffith Avenue, Marino is a fitting setting for this international gathering. With its heritage rooted in Lord Charlemont’s 18th-century estate and its reputation for excellence in teacher education, it perfectly embodies Dublin’s identity as a city of learning and exchange.

This year’s conference theme, “The Making of Authentic Teachers in Ages of Artificiality?” could not be more timely. Across the world, artificial intelligence, automation, and social media are reshaping education. These technologies bring great opportunities — from inclusivity to innovation — but also challenges to privacy, equality, and the human connections that lie at the heart of teaching.

That is why ATEE 2025 matters. Here in Drumcondra, delegates are exploring how to keep education authentic: nurturing creativity, empathy, and critical thinking in a rapidly changing world.

For Dublin, this is more than an academic debate. Our city’s culture, economy, and communities depend on the strength of our schools and teachers. Education transforms lives, opens doors, and builds pride of place — values I see every day across our neighbourhoods.

As Lord Mayor, my theme this year is Celebrating Dublin. Hosting ATEE 2025 here in Drumcondra shows that Dublin is not only a city of history but of ideas — a crossroads for scholarship, creativity, and global dialogue.

Over the next few days, delegates will hear from leading voices, exchange insights, and experience Dublin’s unique spirit. From the cobbled streets of Temple Bar to the Georgian squares, from our literature to our music, I hope every visitor feels the warmth and welcome of our city.

On behalf of the people of Dublin: céad míle fáilte.