Conclave 2018 Irelands premier Games and Hobby Convention to be held at Thomond Park

This year’s Conclave 2018 will be the twentieth Anniversary of Conclave, Ireland’s premier Games and Hobby Convention hosted at Thomond Park, Limerick from June 23- 24. 

Conclave 2018 Irelands premier Games and Hobby Convention to be held at Thomond Park

by ilovelimerick correspondent Chloe O’Keeffe

This year’s Conclave 2018 will be the twentieth Anniversary of Conclave, Ireland’s premier Games and Hobby Convention hosted at Thomond Park, Limerick from June 23- 24. 

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Bonded by an interest in gaming, modeling, painting, comics, sci-fi, fantasy and the gems of pop culture we get together for two days a year to celebrate our many diverse and similar interests, and that is the spirit of Conclave.

For 20 years the Conclave 2018 banner has been bringing people together, from Veteran Wargamers to the youngest Yu-Gi-Oh player still struggling with his first deck, from people who play a knight and roll dice in a Role-Playing Game to people who don a full set of real armour to be a knight.  Anyone who enters our doors, gets involved or has an interest in what we do is a part of Conclave and The Gathering Gamers. If you even think you might fit in or not… then you probably fall under our umbrella.

All are welcome, the young and old, the new faces and the familiar friends, the novices and the pros.  Conclave has always been a family orientated event where parents can come and find out about their kids’ hobbies or kids can come and find out about their parents’ hobbies.

Participants will compete for National and European gaming titles and according to organiser Garry Jackson of The Gathering Games Store in Limerick City, “This year sees the return of many gaming groups and gamers from all over Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Europe as Conclave has become a staple on the European Gaming scene. We have the honour of hosting the Battletech European Championships, part of the hugely successful Mechwarrior franchise. Speaking of franchises, we will also be hosting the ever-popular X-wing, Star Wars Armada and the Lord of the Rings battle game.  These are miniature games which along with Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, Blood Bowl, L’Art De La Guerre (hosted by the Munster Wargamers) and the many other historical games are sure to keep anybody with an interest in miniatures or history occupied for the day.  Each year we showcase a historical event with the battlefield miniatures accurate to the time and period.  This year we have chosen to showcase the 1879 battle of Isandlwana in South Africa (or Zulu Dawn, for those of you that have seen the movie). 

On the collectable card games front, this year sees multiple Pokémon, Magic, YU-GI-OH and Legend of the Five Rings events being run on both days.  The Convention will also feature historical and sci-fi/fantasy games, war-games, collectable card games and more role-playing games than you can possibly imagine.  We pride ourselves on opening the convention to the public with demonstrations and public participation games running throughout the weekend. We’re always trying to add some new and interesting dimensions to the Convention.  Last year we included Medieval fighting, crafting and lifestyle displays by the SCA, and it was so successful we’re asking them back for bigger and better demonstrations throughout the day.”

Commenting on the background to the Conclave Convention, Mr. Jackson said, “The Convention began in 1998 as a gathering for various gaming and hobby groups in Limerick to come together and host an event encompassing all hobbies, and inviting anybody to participate. Starting out in Halle Ide on Thomas street and now in Thomond Park, the event has grown over the years, but what has remained constant is the support and involvement of the local community.  The participation of many local gaming groups, parents, volunteers and the support of local businesses provides a backbone of the convention.”

For more info on Conclave 2018 go here.

For more stories on gaming in Limerick go here.