Windows IT Pro Magazine and Dan Holme are bringing a SharePoint roadshow to Europe, including Ireland. Not all the dates are published yet. More details can be found on their announcement.
Windows IT Pro magazine features lots of writers and editors who are MVP’s, e.g. Eric Rux, Kimberly Tripp, Mark Minasi, Rhonda Layfield and Curt Spanburgh. Due to the format, it can’t really get into great details on technical subjects but it can serve as an introduction to the subjects in question to get you started. Also watch out for their Windows Connections conferences that run in Orlando (once a year), another city in the USA (often Las Vegas, once a year) and sometimes in Europe. “WinCon” is like a smaller version of TechEd where you can get to speak more to the presenters and often get a more open conversation than you can at a Microsoft event *ahem* 😉
EDIT: I talked to one of the organisers and the Irish event may be much later in the year.