The first Spring Show was held in April on the grounds of Leinster House, Kildare Street, the purpose of which was to encourage best breeding practices in livestock by showcasing the best in the country. By the judges of the Show were satisfied that English breeders would soon be purchasing Irish stock such was the quality of cattle breeding on display.
Their confidence was validated in at the Paris International Cattle Show where Irish shorthorn cattle took more prizes in proportion to livestock displayed, than their English and Scottish counterparts combined.
The association with agriculture persists to today and it forms an important part of the Society's mission. Arts was one of the original areas of focus for the Society when it was first founded.
The RDS established its drawing school in and had an early emphasis on figure drawing, landscape and ornament, with architectural drawing added in the s. Tuition was free and popular among people of a wide variety of trades and backgrounds. The RDS association with classical music extends back to when it first organised a series of popular recitals and included works by Corelli, Haydn and Beethoven performed by teaching staff of the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
That same year the first jumping competition featured. It was won by Richard Flynn, a sheep farmer from Co. Roscommon with his gelding Shaun Rhue. With the capacity of the Ballsbridge site the RDS introduced more show classes and jumping competitions. The transfer of the Industries Hall from Leinster House in the s saw the introduction of an exhibition space to house the RDS art and craft competitions.
When the Show resumed after WWI women were permitted to compete in their own jumping competition for the first time. By the following year they were competing in all classes against the men, but the Thursday of the Show, when the first Ladies Competition was held in , is still celebrated as Ladies Day to this day. In the Show hosted its first Nations Cup competition.
Switzerland won that first competition. The first Irish win was in Ireland have gone on to lift the Aga Khan trophy 20 times, winning it outright in and After the Show, which was attended by over 90, people, the RDS commissioned a covered stand with seating for 5, people.
In the early period of the Society, science was linked to agriculture and industry. A link that continued well into the nineteenth century; for instance, the Botanic Gardens had cross-over appeal to both science and agriculture, as did the public lectures in veterinary science. But science began to also carve out its own separate area of interests towards the latter end of the nineteenth century with professorships in chemistry and physics funded by the Society in the s, the employment of an itinerant geologist who toured Ireland collecting specimens for the Society, and the purchase of the Leskean Cabinet of minerals in Learn more about how The RDS and the events that take place here contribute to furthering Ireland's economy.
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Find Out More Useful Downloads Looking for key information such as maps and a venue capacity chart to download and share with you client? Find Out More. Our Team. We get 1. The RDS is completely self-funded, with income deriving entirely from its commercial activity, subscriptions and philanthropic donations. We are not lobbying for anything, or representing any position. There is no financial gain to membership.
There is nothing here but a focus on giving something back. The reasons the RDS exists today are exactly the same as they were when it was founded: contributing to the greater good, of putting ideas into action. What are the main benefits of joining?
Apart from supporting the RDS mission, members have access to an exclusive dining club, hotdesking opportunities in the library, use of meeting rooms, car parking and complimentary access to the Horse Show. There is an active social calendar too with everything from classes to lunchtime events and trips abroad.
Many members also take advantage of our reciprocal clubs arrangements too, allowing them to visit and stay in clubs around the world.
Once you join we can also put new members in touch with existing ones who might have similar interests. How much does membership cost? They love to use the library as a quiet space for studying for exams. Become a member of the RDS today. Please update your payment details to keep enjoying your Irish Times subscription.
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