The Royal Irish Academy’s first discourses were presented in 1786. Historically, Academy discourses were the occasion reserved for the most distinguished academics to first reveal and discuss their research in public. Robert Mallet revealed his pioneering work on earthquakes and William Rowan Hamilton talked about quaternion algebra first at RIA discourses.

Continuing in this tradition, the modern Discourse Series brings international experts to the Academy to discuss important contemporary issues in front of a public audience.

Latest Discourse Series updates

Read more discourse updates

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Watchback Discourse Series | The Future of the EU: Bigger and better?

Watch the recording of this conversation between EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness (2020-24) and broadcaster Olivia O’Leary MRIA, that took place on 23 May 2024.

Discourse Series

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Watchback Discourse Series | Explaining Unionism panel discussion

Watch the recording of this panel discussion with Linda Ervine MBE, Philip Orr MRIA and Glenn Patterson, chaired by Tommie Gorman, that took place on

Discourse Series

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Watchback Discourse Series | The Geometry of Chaos: From Climate Change to Foundations of Quantum Physics

Watch the recording of the Discourse given by Tim Palmer, Hon. MRIA, with Luke Drury MRIA as respondent that took originally place on 7 February

Discourse Series

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Watchback Discourse Series | Grangegorman: From the Era of Neglect to the Era of the Asylum and Back?

Watch the recording of the conversation between Professor Brendan Kelly and Catriona Crowe MRIA that took place on 13 December 2023.

Discourse Series

Watch recordings of the Discourse Series

Our Discourses have been filmed since 2020 and are available to watch on the RIA YouTube channel.

Audio recordings of the Discourse Series (2017-2019)

We began filming our Discourses in 2020, and these can be found on the RIA YouTube channel.