AOTI Launches 60th Anniversary Celebrations
In December 2025, AOTI turned 60 which is an incredible milestone – 60 years of representing and supporting Occupational Therapists in Ireland. To celebrate this achievement, 2026 will be a special anniversary year filled with celebratory events and opportunities to reflect on the profession’s journey over the last 60 years.
As Chairperson of Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, I am delighted to support the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of our remarkable organisation. The 60th anniversary committee has developed a great programme of events to showcase the journey so far and to celebrate our achievements.
I sincerely hope that you can join us by attending some of the events, sharing our achievements and being proud of the evolution of AOTI from humble beginning 60 years ago to the vibrant organisation that we are proud to be part of today.
This is a wonderful moment for AOTI and I am exceptionally proud to be a member of this organisation. As Chairperson I look forward to supporting the profession, our members and the people they serve into the future. Below are some highlights of what we have planned.
Launch of the Anna King Annual AOTI Lecture
Date: Thursday, 16th April 2026 at 6:30pm
Venue: The Ashling Hotel, 10-13 Parkgate Street, Dublin 8.
We are delighted to launch the Anna King Annual AOTI Lecture as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations. This event will celebrate the life and career of Anna King who was the first Chairperson of AOTI. We are delighted that Anna will be attending as our guest of honour for this wonderful night of celebration.
The launch of the Anna King Annual AOTI Lecture gives us an opportunity to recognise Anna’s foundational role as the first Chairperson of AOTI and the lasting legacy of her contribution to the development of the Occupational Therapy profession in Ireland.
The Anna King Lecture will be awarded each year to an AOTI member who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the profession by developing the body of knowledge and/or innovating in practice, management, education or research. Each lecture will be reflective, encouraging and inspiring, and we hope it will become an important event in the annual professional calendar.
We are delighted to announce that Dr Clodagh Nolan is the recipient of the inaugural Anna King Lectureship and will deliver a lecture on 'Occupational Therapy in Ireland: Past, Present and Future.'
This year's lecture is taking place in the Ashling Hotel, Dublin on Thursday, April 16th at 6.30pm. Following the lecture, attendees are invited to stay for refreshments and an opportunity to socialise with fellow OT colleagues and friends. Places will be limited at the event. Bookings are open please select HERE to apply to attend. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know at [email protected].
Ann Beckett Day
Date: Tuesday, 19th May 2026
Venue: Trinity College Dublin, Arts Block
Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation in Occupational Therapy Practice in Ireland
AOTI is proud to announce that we are running an Ann Beckett Day as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations. This event honours the legacy of Ann Beckett, the first professionally qualified Occupational Therapist in Ireland and a founding member of AOTI, whose pioneering work shaped the profession nationally.
The day will celebrate creativity, leadership and innovation in Occupational Therapy, showcasing the impact of the prestigious Ann Beckett Award. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and network with established leaders in the profession. Tea, coffee and a light lunch will be provided.
Registration will open soon via the AOTI events page, and members will be notified when booking becomes available. In the meantime, be sure to save the date.
New AOTI Awards at Conference 2026
At the AOTI Conference this year we will be giving two new Awards, created to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and contributions of our AOTI members and volunteers. The Awards will be given to the AOTI Volunteer of the Year and AOTI Advisory Group of the Year. More details will be provided in due course on this exciting new development.
More Anniversary Highlights to Look Forward To
- Special 60th anniversary newsletter features
- Profiles of OT trailblazers and inspiring practitioners
- Reflections on the evolution of the profession over the decades
- Social media celebrations – follow and share using #AOTI60
We look forward to celebrating this special anniversary year with you and honouring the incredible impact of Occupational Therapy in Ireland over the past 60 years. Please let us know if you would like to be involved in planning our celebrations or have any suggestions - [email protected].
Please see link HERE for dedicated 60th Annverisary information section on AOTI website.
Genevieve O'Halloran - AOTI Chairperson
