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 Hanly 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.

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 18th century the RDS disseminated new scientific ideas through its journal publications and introduced professorships in chemistry and physics. In the 19th 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 21st century skills.

Join RDS Foundation Director Niamh de Loughry 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.

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.