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.

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Culture Night returns to Academy House

12 October 2022

A wonderful evening was had at Academy House celebrating Culture Night 2022, our first in-person Culture Night since 2019! We welcomed 550 visitors through the doors and there was plenty to see and hear.

On Friday, 23 September, celebrations took place at The Royal Irish Academy to mark Culture Night 2022. We have been participating in Culture Night(link is external) since 2006 and we have seen it grow each year. We’d like to thank the organisers of Culture Night, the Arts Council (link is external) and Dublin City Council (link is external) along with all our visitors. A big thank you also to all the Academy staff and volunteers who worked late on the night.

Culture Night was an opportunity to explore the rich history of the Royal Irish Academy House, its unique library collections, research projects, pop-up bookshop and much more.

Our Research projects showcased their work with urban maps from the Irish Historic Towns Atlas and collections from the Digital Repository of Ireland and Foclóir Stairiúil na Gaeilge.

Terry Clavin and Patrick Maume took visitors through some of the most recent updates to the Dictionary of Irish Biography, which included entries on notable figures such as Bill O’Herlihy, Terry Wogan, Daisy Bannard, Mary Redmond, and Brian Friel.

The Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources staff presented an introduction to their research and a display featuring the project's role in the history of digitally-based lexicography. 

The Publications team had our latest books available for purchase in the Council Room.

Our visitors met the Royal Irish Academy Library staff and learned about our special collections. Two of our most important medieval manuscripts – the Cathach and Stowe Missal – were on display.

‘Madam Dragonfly: Cynthia Longfield, 1896-1991’, an exhibition of a selection of journals and photographs recording Cynthia Longfield’s travels including rare entomological works, opened on the night in our recently refurbished Meeting Room. This exhibition will remain open until December 2022.

Also in the Reading Room young and old were keen to learn to write in the early Irish language using the Ogham alphabet. Maybe you can have a go yourself? 

We look forward to Culture Night 2023!

 

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