Limerick, Ireland

Improving Health, Empowering Communities

The WONCA World Rural Health Conference 2022, hosted at the University of Limerick, brought together experts from Health, Science, Engineering, the Arts and NGOs from around the world.

The conference was ICGP CPD Approved, offering 26.5 CPD points for full conference attendance and 3.5 days study leave. Notifications of paper reviews for the main conference were sent to authors — authors were asked to check spam folders for an email from registrationWRHC2022@woncarhc2022.com.

Wide-angle documentary photograph of a modern university campus on a bright day, with red-brick buildings, green lawns and glass-fronted walkways under a soft blue sky

ICGP CPD Approved

26.5 CPD points

3.5 days study leave

In-person conference

About the conference

A gathering for rural health practitioners, academics, students, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors, held at the University of Limerick.

The programme was built around the theme “Improving Health, Empowering Communities”, with contributions from Health, Science, Engineering, the Arts and NGOs worldwide.

Keynote speakers and a full conference programme
Social events, including a concert series with fiddle players Manus McGuire and Mareka Naito
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, with thanks to the GOLD sponsors
Student activities and a student online conference
Accommodation guidance and a guide to Limerick and its tours

View the programme Registration details

The WONCA World Rural Health Conference brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, and community leaders from across the globe to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural practice. With a focus on improving healthcare delivery in underserved regions, the event creates a platform for sharing innovative approaches that strengthen local services. Delegates can expect a rich exchange of ideas grounded in real-world experience, spanning clinical care, workforce development, and community engagement.

A central theme of the gathering is the empowerment of rural communities through collaborative action. Sessions explore how partnerships between health practitioners, educators, policymakers, and the voluntary sector can drive meaningful change at the local level. By highlighting models of co-design and shared decision-making, the conference underscores the importance of relationships and trust in building resilient health systems that truly reflect the needs of the people they serve.

Set against the backdrop of the Shannon region, the conference offers more than an academic programme. The welcoming atmosphere of Limerick and its surrounding landscapes provides a fitting setting for reflection and connection. Attendees have the opportunity to engage with a diverse community of peers, discover practical strategies for addressing workforce shortages, and return home equipped with fresh perspectives that can shape the future of rural healthcare in their own regions.

Explore the conference

Key areas of the site, from the programme to the city that hosted the conference.

Programme

Details of the conference programme for the WONCA World Rural Health Conference 2022.

Programme details

Keynotes

Information about the keynote speakers presenting at the conference.

Meet the keynotes

Registration

Registration information for attendees of the conference.

Registration information

Accommodation

Accommodation information for attendees travelling to Limerick.

Where to stay

Students

Information for students attending the conference.

Student information

Limerick and tours

Ireland’s third largest city, in the mid-west near the Atlantic coast, with King John’s Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral, The Hunt Museum and more.

About Limerick

Start with the programme

Send an enquiry

Use this form to draft your message, then send it to the relevant conference address.

How the conference was organised

Theme and programme. Sessions were framed by “Improving Health, Empowering Communities”, with experts from Health, Science, Engineering, the Arts and NGOs.
Papers and review. Notifications of paper reviews for the main conference were sent to authors.
CPD recognition. The conference was ICGP CPD Approved, with 26.5 CPD points for full attendance and 3.5 days study leave.
Sponsors and exhibitors. Organisations took part through sponsorship and exhibition, and the conference thanked its GOLD sponsors.
Beyond the sessions. Social events featured fiddle players Manus McGuire and Mareka Naito.

Limerick and nearby attractions

Limerick is Ireland’s third largest city and is located in the mid-west of Ireland, near to the Atlantic coast. The city dates from around 812 BCE when it was settled by the Vikings, with earlier settlement evidence around King’s Island, referenced as “Regia” on a map by Ptolemy from 150 BCE.

King John’s Castle (1200) and St Mary’s Cathedral (1168) were built in the 12th century and remain open as visitor attractions. Limerick became one of Ireland’s major ports in the 17th century, giving rise to the Georgian quarter.

Attractions listed for visitors
In the city	The Hunt Museum, Limerick City Gallery of Art, The People’s Museum, Treaty City Brewery
Further afield	Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, the Cliffs of Moher