THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

Read more about the RIA

Cunningham Medal awardees

Cunningham Medals awarded since 1796

1796                

Thomas Wallace

1800              

Theophilus Swift

1805                

William Preston

1818                

John Brinkley

1828               

 John D’Alton

1830                

George Petrie

1833                

George Petrie

1834                

William Rowan Hamilton

1838                

James MacCullagh

1839                

  • James Apjohn                       
  • George Petrie

1843                

Robert Kane

1848                

  • William Rowan Hamilton
  • Samuel Haughton
  •  Edward Hincks
  • John O’Donovan

1851                

John Hewitt Jellett

1858                

  • Edward J. Cooper
  • George Salmon
  • Charles William Wall
  • William Reeves

1862                

  • Humphrey Lloyd
  • Robert Mallet
  • Whitley Stokes
  •  John Thomas Gilbert

1873                

William R. Wilde

1878                

  • Aquilla Smith
  •  John Casey
  •  Edward Dowden
  • George James Allman

1879                

  • William Archer
  •  Robert Stawell Ball

1881                

Howard Grubb

1883                

Edward Perceval Wright

1884                

John Birmingham

1885                

John Christian Malet

1989                

George Francis Mitchell

2001                

  • Daniel J. Bradley                  
  • Maurice Craig                       
  • Bernard Crossland
  •  David B. Quinn

2005                

Denis L. Weaire

2008                

Seamus Heaney

2011                

John V. McCanny

2014                

Patrick Honohan

2017                

Dervilla M.X. Donnelly

2020                

Nicholas Canny

Stay up to date with the Royal Irish Academy newsletter

Sign up now