The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions. Founded in 1785, its current and former members include artists, scientists and writers from around Ireland. Membership is by election, usually after the proposed member has published a noted scientific or scholarly work. In addition, international scholars can be selected as honorary members if they have contributed to academia and have a connection to Ireland.
Since 1851 the academy has been located at 19, Dawson Street in the center of Dublin. Built in c.1750, the building has some fine decorative plasterwork and a handsome meeting room designed in 1854 by Fredrick Villiers Clarendon and now used for conferences, exhibitions and public talks. The academy library holds some important early Irish manuscipts and, in fact, the academy once held many Celtic treasures now in the National Museum of Ireland.
The academy is also know for its publications on Irish material, particularly biography, history, geography and language. The Atlas of Ireland, published in 1979, was a comprehensive altas of Irelands geography, including related socio-economic thematical information. The academy keeps an extensive library and collection of Irish related material.
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Last updated: 08-20-2005 12:52:37
