Sherry FitzGerald Portlaoise Team Attend Annual Countrywide Conference 2026
In photo from left -right – Tony, Siobhan, Neala (Director) & Bernie
The Portlaoise team from Sherry FitzGerald Hyland Keating attended the Sherry FitzGerald Group Annual Countrywide Conference 2026, an event that brings together the Group’s nationwide network to share insight, strengthen standards, and prepare for the year ahead in the property sector.
The conference took place on Friday, 23 January at the Johnstown Estate, welcoming colleagues from across Ireland to reflect on market performance in 2025 and to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the property market in 2026.
The event was opened by Des O’Malley, Head of Sherry FitzGerald Countrywide, who highlighted the importance of collaboration, shared standards and innovation across the Group’s national network.
The opening keynote address was delivered by Marian Finnegan, Chief Executive of Sherry FitzGerald Group. Her address provided a comprehensive market update alongside a strategic overview of the Group’s vision for the year ahead, outlining ambitious growth plans, continued investment in innovation, and key economic and property trends expected to influence the sector in 2026 and beyond.
A highlight of the morning programme was a keynote interview titled Driving Ambition: Two Titans of Irish Business, featuring Anne Heraty and Tommy Kelly in conversation with Ian Kehoe. The discussion explored leadership, scaling Irish businesses internationally, and the mindset required to build organisations with long-term impact.
Delegates also participated in a series of tailored breakout sessions aligned to their roles across the business, focusing on leadership, decision-making, performance excellence and strengthening the customer experience. These sessions were designed to provide practical, immediately applicable insights for teams working across all areas of the property lifecycle.
The conference concluded with the annual Countrywide Awards Ceremony, where Sherry FitzGerald O’Leary Kinsella was named Sherry FitzGerald Countrywide Member of the Year 2026, recognising exceptional performance and standards across the national network.
Commenting on the conference, Neala Keating, Director at Sherry FitzGerald Hyland Keating, said:
“Attending the Annual Countrywide Conference provides valuable insight and perspective that directly supports how we operate day-to-day at a local level. It ensures we continue to deliver informed, professional advice to our clients, backed by the strength and expertise of the Sherry FitzGerald national network.” Speaking more broadly on the event, Des O’Malley described the conference as “an invaluable opportunity to step back, share insight and reinforce the standards that underpin the Sherry FitzGerald brand nationwide.” The Sherry FitzGerald Annual Countrywide Conference remains a cornerstone event for the Group, reinforcing its commitment to leadership, professional development and continued excellence across Ireland’s most progressive property network.
