Royal Irish Academy

Not to be confused with Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Irish Academy of Music, or Royal Irish Institution.

Royal Irish Academy
Formation1785; 239 years ago (1785)
FounderJames Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont
Headquarters19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, D02 HH58,
Dublin, Ireland
President
Mary Canning
Websitewww.ria.ie Edit this at Wikidata

The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; Irish: Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier learned society and one of its leading cultural institutions. The Academy was established in 1785 and granted a royal charter in 1786.[1] As of 2019, the RIA has around 600 members, regular members being Irish residents elected in recognition of their academic achievements, and Honorary Members similarly qualified but based abroad; a small number of members are elected in recognition of non-academic contributions to society.

Meeting Room in Academy House

Until the late 19th century the Royal Irish Academy was the owner of the main national collection of Irish antiquities. It presented its collection of archaeological artefacts and similar items, which included such famous pieces as the Tara Brooch, the Cross of Cong and the Ardagh Chalice to what is now the National Museum of Ireland, but retains its very significant collection of manuscripts including the famous Cathach of Colmcille, the Lebor na hUidre (c. 1100), the later medieval Leabhar Breac, the Book of Ballymote, and the Annals of the Four Masters.

  1. ^ Harbison, Peter (2003). "Royal Irish Academy", in Lalor, Brian (ed.) Encyclopaedia of Ireland, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, pp. 948–949.