Did you know that the RDS is one of Europe’s oldest philanthropic societies, and our mission to drive positive change for Ireland remains the same today as it did with our Foundation in 1731.
This new Podcast series, produced by the RDS Library & Archives, tells the story of the RDS beyond its more familiar face as Ireland’s premier events venue.
Our podcast title comes from the RDS Latin motto, Nostri Plena Laboris which roughly translates as our work bears fruit.
Join us as we take a deep dive into the RDS Archives to discover the fascinating history of this unique institution, which has been delivering social impact across Ireland for almost 300 years.
The RDS was, from its foundation in 1731, a colonial institution, with projects extending from its members' rooms in Dublin to the Irish countryside, and across the ocean to the Caribbean plantation colonies. For over 100 years, the RDS played a crucial role in shaping and disseminating colonial science and focused on issues that directly benefited colonial interests, such as agriculture, industry, and the harnessing of Ireland’s natural resources.
In 2024, in collaboration with Research Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, the RDS made an important commitment to address its colonial legacies, joining a growing number of institutions and organisations in Ireland and across the world who have chosen to investigate their ties to enslavement and empire.
In this episode of ‘Bearing Fruit: Tales from the RDS Archives,’ RDS Foundation Director Niamh De Loughry, Head of Library & Archives Natasha Serne and Research Ireland Enterprise Fellow Dr Rachael Scally explore the colonial history of the RDS, and touch on the preliminary findings of Rachael’s research into its legacies of empire.
27 Nov 2025
From Cario to Cork: The Lawrence E. Steele Collection
From 1895 to 1914, amateur Egyptologist and RDS Member Lawrence E. Steele made 4 trips to Egypt, where he visited archaeological digs, ancient temple complexes and the Cairo museum. On his return Steele lectured around Ireland on Egyptology, utilising the photographs he took, and the glass lantern slides he purchased on his travels. The record of his visits, including 1,500 glass lantern slides, several diaries and notebooks and an album of press-cuttings of reviews of Steele’s lectures were left to the RDS collections in 1946.
From 2024-2025 the RDS Library & Archives were fortunate to receive funding from a private donor and from the Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme to digitise this collection. It is now complete and available to view on the RDS Digital Archive.
In this episode of Bearing Fruit: Tales from the RDS Archives, Foundation Director Niamh de Loughry talk about Steele’s life and legacy and explore the broader RDS digital collections.
View the RDS Digital Collections here: https://digitalarchive.rds.ie/
4 Nov 2025
The RDS and Irish Forestry
During the 18 th century the RDS facilitated the planting of around 55 million trees in
Ireland. The National Botanic Gardens, founded by the Society in 1795,
experimented with different tree species into the 19 th century and in 1988 they
introduced the first forestry awards in Ireland. In this podcast we join Niamh de
Loughry RDS Foundation Director, Head of RDS Library & Archives Natasha Serne
and Head of the RDS Forest and Woodlands Awards judging panel Dr Mick Keane to
explore the near 300-year-old story of the RDS and Irish forestry.
The RDS Forest and Woodland Awards recognise and reward farmers and woodland
owners that have adopted Climate-Smart Agricultural practices on their properties.
These practices include sound commercial management, environmental protection,
and biodiversity. The Awards are now open for entries until Friday, December 19. To
apply, visit RDS - Forestry Awards
The RDS would like to thank our sponsors and partners for their support and
dedication to the Awards; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Teagasc, and Woodlands of Ireland.
2 May 2025
The Story of the RDS and Irish Craft
From its involvement with the Irish linen industry in the 18th century, to the introduction of public exhibitions in the 19th and 20th centuries, to its continuing support of the sector today with the launch of the new RDS Craft Awards, the RDS has always played a pivotal role in the support of native craft and design.
Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh de Loughry, Head of Library & Archives, Natasha Serne and Research Ireland Enterprise Fellow, Dr Deirdre Foley, for the latest episode of the RDS Library & Archives podcast series Bearing fruit: Tales from the RDS Archives, as they explore the rich history of the RDS and its involvement in the support of Irish craft.
28 Mar 2025
150 Years of the Dublin Horse Show, a Celebration of Ireland’s Affinity with the Horse.
In 2025 the RDS celebrates its 150th Dublin Horse Show. This iconic event has been a fixture
in the Irish summer calendar for over a century and has influenced and shaped the horse
breeding industry in Ireland from its earliest days at Leinster House to the present day at the
RDS showgrounds in Ballsbridge.
Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh de Loughry in conversation with RDS Deputy CEO-
Finance and Horse Show Director Pat Hanley along with Head of Library & Archives
Natasha Serne for this episode of Bearing Fruit: Tales from the RDS Archives where they
explore the history of the Show from its beginnings in the 19th century and how it has shaped
the mission of the RDS to support the Irish horse breeder and producer by showcasing the
best Irish bred horses.
28 Feb 2025
A Blast from the Past! The RDS and Science Education in Ireland
From the establishment of its first laboratory in 1792 to the introduction of ESB Science Blast
in 2019, the RDS has a long and illustrious history of engagement with science education in
Ireland.
During the 18 th RDS disseminated new scientific ideas through its journal publications and
introduced professorships in chemistry and physics. In the 19 th century it played a pivotal
role in the establishment of the National College of Science and introduced a series of public
lectures on all aspects of science and technology.
Today the RDS continues its commitment to STEM education in Ireland through ESB
Science Blast, a free and fun-filled interactive experience designed and delivered by the
RDS that seeks to engage primary school children with STEM, using 21 st century skills.
Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh de Loughrey in conversation with our Head of Library
& Archives Natasha Serne and science communication expert Dr Brian Trench as they
explore the rich and fascinating history of the relationship between the RDS and science
education in Ireland across three centuries.
15 Nov 2024
Telling Tales: Revealing the History of the RDS Library & Archives
The RDS Library & Archives is one of the oldest and largest independent Libraries in Ireland and has been a part of the Society from its Foundation in 1731. Its remit is to collect material related to the RDS Foundation areas of areas of art, science, agriculture, enterprise and equestrianism, and to maintain its archives which offer a rich and unique resource for researchers and students of the social, economic and cultural history of Ireland.
The Library was housed in several locations across Dublin from its beginnings in 1731 until the Society purchased Leinster House in 1815. There the Library occupied the first floor of the building sharing space with the RDS museum collections until the opening of the Natural History Museum building in 1856. In 1877, under the auspices of the Dublin Art and Museum Act the RDS Library collections were transferred to the State to form the foundation collections of the National Library of Ireland. The RDS moved from Leinster House to Ballsbridge in 1924 and the new Library was opened in what is now the RDS Concert Hall. The current Library building was designed by the architect Louis Giron and was opened by Eamon De Valera in 1965.
The RDS Library & Archives collections are available for consultation by the public by appointment. Parts of the collections are also to view on the RDS digital archive platform. Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh De Loughry and Head of Library & Archives Natasha Serne as they explore the fascinating history of the RDS Library & Archives from its beginnings in the 18th century to the present day.
11 Oct 2024
RDS 1924-2024: 100 Years at Ballsbridge
In 2024 the RDS celebrate the centenary of the transfer of their headquarters from Leinster House to Ballsbridge.
Founded as the Dublin Society in 1731 to promote agriculture, industry, art and science in Ireland the RDS had a presence in the centre of Dublin for almost 200 years. In 1879, the Society leased a parcel of 15 acres of land from the Earl of Pembroke at Ballsbridge to hold their Spring Show and Horse Show.
In 1923/24 the Society sold Leinster House to the Irish government for Dáil Éireann, moving their operations out of the city to this leafy South Dublin suburb on the banks of the River Dodder. Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh De Loughry and Head of Library & Archives Natasha Serne as they take a trip around Dublin to explore the various homes and haunts of the RDS from its earliest days at Trinity College Dublin up to its development as Ireland’s premier events venue at Ballsbridge.
13 Sept 2024
From Electricity to Education: Three Centuries of Science and the RDS
From the foundation of the National Botanic Gardens in 1795 to the introduction of ESB Science Blast in 2019, the RDS has a long and illustrious history in engagement with science in Ireland.
During the 18th and 19th centuries the RDS disseminated new scientific ideas through public lectures and journal publications, introduced professorships in chemistry and physics and established a laboratory at its premises on Hawkins Street that moved with the Society on its transfer to Leinster House in 1815.
In 1899 the Society introduced the Boyle Medal to award excellence in scientific research and in 1914 it founded the Irish Radium Institute that pioneered one of the earliest treatments for cancer in the world.
Today we continue its commitment to STEM education in Ireland through ESB Science Blast, which is designed and delivered by the RDS, to inspire primary school children and is one of the largest science education programmes for primary schools of its kind anywhere.
Join RDS Foundation Niamh de Loughrey in conversation with our Head of Library & Archives Natasha Serne as they explore the rich and fascinating story of the RDS and science in Ireland across three centuries.
7 Aug 2024
Straight From the Horse’s Mouth: A Short History of the Dublin Horse Show
First held in 1864, the Dublin Horse Show is a celebration of Ireland's affinity with the horse. From the best show horses to the best international show jumpers, it is one of Ireland's largest events, welcoming tens of thousands of people each year from Ireland and across the globe. Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh De Loughrey and RDS Head of Library & Archives as they explore the rich history of this unique Dublin institution.
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