Our awards and medals identify and celebrate the achievements and international impact of Ireland’s world class researchers along with individual contributions to the advancement of the Academy itself. While these awards and medals presented to individual researchers, it is broadly accepted as a recognition of the extraordinary work of institutes, research teams and individual dedication to the advancement of the Academy and its objectives.

Latest news and events

Gold Medals 2025 logo

2025 Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal recipients announced

The Academy is delighted to announce our 2025 Gold Medal recipients in the Humanities and Life and Medical Sciences.

Grants, Prizes and Awards

L-to-R: President of the RIA, Professor Pat Guiry; Ambassador of France to Ireland, HE Céline Place; winner of the 2024 Michel Déon Prize, Vona Groarke; and Ruaidhri Dowling from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Vona Groarke announced as the winner of the 2024 Michel Déon Prize for non-fiction

On 23 October, at a prize ceremony in the RIA, Vona Groarke was announced as the winner of the €10,000 2024 Michel Déon Prize for…

Grants, Prizes and Awards

Photo of the 2024 Hamilkton prize in mathematics winners with the President of the Royal Irish Academy

2024 Hamilton Prize awarded to 9 Top Mathematical Students

On Wednesday, 16 October 2024 the prestigious undergraduate Hamilton Prize was awarded to the top 9 mathematical students on the Island of Ireland, at a…

Grants, Prizes and Awards

A chalkboard filled with various mathematical equations and symbols, showcasing complex calculations and problem-solving.

Charlemont Grants scheme for international research travel open

The Charlemont Grants scheme for early career researchers is open until 17:00 on Friday, 25 October.

Grants, Prizes and Awards

Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell holding the Cunningham Medal.

Cunningham Medal

The Cunningham Medal is the Academy’s premier award and dates back to 1796. It is awarded every three years in recognition of “outstanding contributions to scholarship and the objectives of the Academy

A woman (Brigid Laffan) with blonde shoulder length hair smiles as she poses for a photo with her RIA Gold Medal in a green box, which she holds in her hand.

Gold Medals

The Royal Irish Academy awards two RIA Gold Medals every year. The medals are awarded to individuals who have made a demonstrable and internationally recognised outstanding scholarly contribution in their fields