ISG meeting showcased Limerick surgical innovation 

The well-attended Irish Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) 2026 Summer Meeting took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Limerick on 11–12 June.

A line-up of eminent speakers from home and abroad highlighted the latest advances across a range of gastrointestinal-related conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease surgery, cancer screening, the microbiome, endoscopy, and liver disease.

“All the speakers were fantastic and it was great to get a speaker all the way from Los Angeles [Prof Phillip Fleshner], who was able to give us the perspective from the other side of the world,” ISG President Dr Manus Moloney told the Medical Independent.

Dr Moloney noted the meeting also showcased the “amazing work” of the Department of Surgery at University Hospital Limerick, led by the “excellent” Prof Calvin Coffey, who spoke about the surgical management of Crohn’s disease, and Prof Christina Fleming, who spoke about rectal cancer management.

“There was also a lot of positive feedback for the return of paper posters for the presentations of our junior colleagues and there was a lot of audience engagement and questions – everyone seemed to be engaged and enthused by the talks, which was very pleasing.”

Dr Moloney praised the high quality of the research presented at the meeting, stating that “the US and European speakers always comment on the high standard of research and are often a bit taken aback that we are ahead of them in many respects [in this area]”.

Dr Moloney closed the meeting by thanking the speakers, abstract reviewers, Chairs, and the board of the ISG.

He also thanked Mr Michael Dineen and Ms Cora Gannon for all their work in putting together “a very stimulating and illuminating meeting for all”.

The ISG 2026 Winter Meeting will take place on 19–20 November at the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co Dublin.