A Galway conference will examine how employee ownership can help build stronger local businesses, create secure employment and ensure wealth is shared more fairly, drawing on the experience of one of the world’s largest worker-owned cooperatives in Spain.
The conference, Worker Owned Cooperatives – Real Employee Ownership, will take place at the Radisson RED Hotel in Mervue, Galway, on Monday, November 9, 2026, from 2pm to 6pm.
Organised by Coop West, the in-person event will bring together speakers from business, academia and the cooperative movement to explore the potential of employee ownership in Ireland and the practical steps involved in making it a reality.
A central focus will be the experience of Mondragon, the Spanish cooperative group widely recognised as a leading example of worker ownership operating on a large scale. The organisation has approximately 71,400 people, annual revenue of €11.3 billion and operations in 150 countries.
Organisers believe its experience offers valuable lessons for Irish businesses seeking to develop more inclusive models of ownership, retain wealth within local communities and provide employees with a meaningful stake in the companies they help build.
The programme will include a contribution from Professor Kathleen Lynch of University College Dublin on Why Equality Matters – The Impact of Inequality on Society. Ander Etxeberria Otadui of Mondragon will present the cooperative’s story, while Frank Greene of Mazars will examine the tax and financial barriers facing worker-owned cooperatives in Ireland, alongside potential workarounds.
Irish case studies will also feature, with contributions from organisations and individuals involved in employee ownership and cooperative enterprise. The event will conclude with a panel discussion and question-and-answer session, giving attendees an opportunity to hear directly from employee-owners and cooperative leaders about their experiences, challenges and lessons learned.
The organisers, two worker-owned technology cooperatives based in Galway, say they want to encourage wider discussion about the benefits and practicalities of employee ownership, particularly as communities consider how to secure good jobs and build resilient businesses for the future.
Admission is free, although tickets are limited. The event is aimed at business owners, employees, policymakers, community organisations and anyone interested in alternative approaches to business ownership and economic development.
Event details: Worker Owned Cooperatives – Real Employee Ownership; Monday, November 9, 2026, 2pm–6pm, with optional lunch at 12.45pm; Radisson RED Hotel, Crown Square, Joyce’s Road, Mervue, Galway, H91 H5PX.
Contact: Éamonn McGuinness, Coop West, on 087 299 7504 for further information.
Free tickets are available through the event registration QR code on the conference poster, subject to availability.
