Minerva December 2015

MINERVA

Editor

Welcome to the December Minerva MINERVA

Diarmuid Hanifin

Contributors

Eileen Byrne Susan Cox

Michael Duffy Paul Farrelly

Ann-Marie Hardiman Catherine Jordan

Claire Mulhall Paul O Grady

Dara O’Leary Joanna Quinn

Gerard Whelan

Design and Production

Sub-editing and layout

Media Ltd Tel: 01 856 1166 www thinkmedia ie

ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY

Ballsbridge Dublin 4

T: 01 668 0866 F: 01 660 4014

www rds ie

www facebook com/RDSdublin

www facebook com/dublinhorseshow

www twitter com/theRDS

Minerva: minerva@rds ie General: info@rds ie RDS Foundation: foundation@rds ie RDS Membership: members@rds ie

Minerva, the magazine for Members of the Royal Dublin Society is published tri-annually Any views expressed are not those necessarily held by the RDS or its Council No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission

As President, I am often called upon to sing the praises of the RDS, but at a recent lunch for new Members I had the opportunity to listen to someone else extol its virtues instead. Kay McCarthy is one of the most respected professionals in Irish advertising, as well as being a recent RDS Member Her validation of the benefits of Membership, and of the work programme that fulfils the core aim of the Society, was refreshing and invigorating, and made me appreciate anew this inimitable organisation It’s important to remember that like much in life, you get out of RDS Membership what you put in And the RDS expects you to contribute in some way beyond your Membership One way that you can do this is by encouraging others to join, perhaps by giving the ‘Gift of RDS Membership’ as a Christmas present this year Perhaps the person you have in mind is in business and the practical elements of the Club appeal, or perhaps they are impassioned by our work programme. Whatever the reason, your gift will be totally unique

One of the elements that make the RDS unique is the collective wisdom, voluntary

effort and resources of our Members It has been a very successful year, with our work programme having an increasingly recognised impact. I would like to thank all the Members involved, and the professional staff who have helped to make this happen

Finally, I would like to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year

MATTHEW DEMPSEY RDS PRESIDENT DECEMBER 2015

DEPARTMENT CONTACTS

Arts (01) 240 7255 ar ts@rds ie

Equestrian (01) 240 7296 equestrian@rds ie Science & Technology (01) 240 7289 science@rds ie Agriculture & Rural Affairs (01) 240 7215 agriculture@rds ie

Membership (01) 240 7296 members@rds ie

Library (01) 240 7254 librarydesk@rds ie Editorial (01) 668 0866 members@rds ie Industry & Commerce (01) 240 7215 industry@rds ie

RDS Gold Medal

An annual highlight in the RDS calendar is the presentation of the RDS Gold Medal for Industry A celebration of indigenous Irish business success, the annual lunch saw this year ’s recipient Gary McGann presented with the Medal by RDS President Matthew Dempsey Former CEO of one of Ireland’s most successful multinationals, Smurfit Kappa Group, Gary oversaw the creation of this company with the merger of the two packaging giants Jefferson Smurfit and Kappa His impressive track record extends to the aviation and drinks industries, where he

was CEO of Aer Lingus and Gibneys, respectively Gary is on the boards of many companies, including Paddy

Power, Aon Insurance and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Gary’s impact in the world of Irish business has been

remarkable and the RDS was very pleased to be able to acknowledge this in a fitting tribute to him

Ticket sales for the 2016 Dublin Horse Show opened this month

To book 2016 Horse Show tickets, please contact the Members’ Desk on 01 240 7296 As an RDS Member, you may pre-book a complimentary seated stand ticket for anywhere available within the Main Arena on any of the five days of the Show, which next year will run from July 20-24

Please note the allocation of complimentary tickets for Members is done on a first come - first served basis so early booking is strongly advised. Members may also

book tickets for non-Member guests at the same time Members, due to renew their membership for 2016, may do so at the time of booking their complimentary Dublin Horse Show ticket. Alternatively, those due to renew can do so online using the Membership number and pin number supplied in their renewal notice, over the telephone on 01 240 7296 or by sending a direct debit mandate or cheque to RDS Membership, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

RDS – Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards

In many ways, nothing represents the past, present and future of the RDS Agriculture and Rural Affairs programme better than our connection to forestry. The RDS – Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards have re-established the Society’s long history in the development of Irish forestry, which originally saw over 55 million trees planted in Ireland from 1741 to 1806 through the Society's land improvement and afforestation projects The Society’s deep roots in forestry were on display at the 2015 RDS – Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards, where many of the forests that were

recognised had connections to the RDS going back centuries The twin goals of promoting the economic and environmental benefits of good farming are key to what the RDS hopes to achieve through our Agriculture and Rural Affairs programme Highlighting excellent Irish farmers and communicating what they are able to accomplish through the application of Climate-Smart Agriculture builds on the RDS tradition of promoting scientifically proven best practice and innovative management techniques, which stretches back to the

foundation of the Society Changes to the 2015 Awards saw the introduction of a new Production Forestry category, which is divided into two sections: above 15 hectares and below 15 hectares. Ivor Clegg from Co. Laois and Pat Coffey from Co Cavan received these honours, respectively, at the Awards in recognition of excellence in commercial forest management, and it was not just the size of their respective plantations that marked them out as different from one another.

Pat Coffey is an excellent example of the economic and amenity benefits that good

forestry brings Pat planted his woodland of just over 10 hectares himself in 1994 and 1995, and set out to create a broadleaf forest in which to live. In the over 15 hectares category, Ivor Clegg is a good example of a farmer who has made a courageous decision to change his entire farm enterprise from traditional dairying to a new and unfamiliar undertaking, i e , forestry He has approached the transition with clear commercial objectives and has made sound silvicultural judgements on species selection, establishment and management practice

International innovation in primary school science

The RDS is leading the way in innovating how science is taught in our primary schools An independent study carried out by international experts noted that the pilot conducted last year by the RDS had the potential to become the global benchmark for continuous professional development in this area of science education. RDS STEM Learning has been developed by the RDS and DCU, with significant matching financial assistance from Science Foundation Ireland The initiative attempts to bridge the gap between practice in primary classrooms and best academic

research in education.

On November 14, RDS STEM Learning held a booked out conference with renowned Swedish science educationalist Hans Persson The conference explored new ways of bringing science and maths into children’s everyday lives through a series of hands-on workshops and networking sessions, as well as a keynote presentation from Hans The workshops saw learning interaction between participants, key experts in science education and pioneering primary school teachers, all with vital insights into how to make

INNOVATION

Independent research has noted that the STEM Learning programme has the potential to be a world leader in science education

teaching science rewarding and enriching for all involved in primary school education

With RDS STEM Learning and the RDS Primary Science Fair (which you can read more about on pages 8 and 9), the RDS is fast establishing itself as a leading innovator in science education.

Packed Concer t Hall for the Rising Stars

It was close to a full house in the RDS Concert Hall on November 25 for the final Rising Stars Concert of 2015, where some of the finest new talent in Irish classical music was on display

Violinist Róisín Walters was the special guest on the night

Róisín was the winner of the RDS Music Bursary in 2011 and is fast establishing herself as a leading soloist of her generation. Her playing has been described as displaying “passion and ravishing tonal qualities” She has performed extensively in such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Club in New York, and the Barbican Centre in London Róisín has achieved many awards, competing both nationally and internationally from an early age Róisín headlined a stellar lineup of talented young musicians on the night who were all delighted to be involved For young musicians transitioning from college into early professional career, performing in front of a live audience is crucial to their development and is what the RDS provides through our Rising Stars

Concert series

RDS MUSIC BURSARY WINNER

Violinist Róisín Walters was the special guest at this year’s event

Inspiring speakers

Professor David McConnell

opened the most recent RDS Library Speaker Series with a account of 'The Story of Genetically Modified Golden Rice', which told of the reason for modifying the rice and its resultant benefits in communities for whom it is the main food source Seamu O’Brien’s 'Kilmacurragh and the Great War' narrated the fortunes of the Acton family during that bloody conflict

Maurice gave a fascinating talk on understanding oral history.

The concert was compered by Laura Gilsenan, CEO of the Feis Ceoil Association, who lavished praise on the RDS for providing such a wonderful performance opportunity for young musicians. There has been very positive feedback from all quarters on our biennial Rising Stars Concerts and, encouragingly, audience numbers have continued to increase with each concert

The four Rising Stars performers on the night were: Apollo Duo (Jordan Bagot and Denise Crowley – piano duet); Liam McManus (classical guitar); Aoibhneas (Emma Kenrick, Kevin Corcoran and Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada –flute/piano/voice trio); and, Billy O’Brien (piano) Fifteenyear-old Liam McManus appeared live on RTÉ Radio’s Arena arts programme on November 9, where he performed two pieces to promote the concert

For more information, see www.rds.ie/risingstars.

The Actons were the former owners of Kilmacurragh gardens, which have now been restored by the Office of Public Works John Feehan covered the topical subject of Irish bogs with his presentation, 'Past, Present and Future of Bogs in Ireland', and left us with much to think about as to options that must be considered for the future of this integral part of the Irish landscape

Maurice O’Keeffe gave a talk on 'Understanding the Value of Oral History' This fascinating talk on an often undervalued history source was attended by several hundred people, including Minister Jimmy Deenihan, who came to hear of his ‘1916

Rising’ collection Felix M Larkin brought the subject of 'The Asinine Law: Irish Legal Cartoons c 1800-2015' to a receptive audience, which included members of the Irish judiciary and former Taoiseach John Bruton.

The final talk in November was on the 'ROSC Exhibitions: Crossroads of Conflict & Celebration' The first two ROSC exhibitions were held at the RDS in 1967 and 1971 Brenda Moore-McCann gave a knowledgeable account and overview on aspects of the exhibitions and some controversies that they gave rise to at the time

Sad news

A few days before the start of the Speaker Series in September, the death occurred of Graham Wilkinson, Chairman of the Speaker Series Working Group and Library & Archives Committee Member It was thus appropriate that the series began with a moment of silence to mark his passing and acknowledge the significant contribution and direction he brought to the series in recent years.

Celebrating the curious

T h e R D S w a s a fo u n d i n g

s p o n s o r o f t h e Fe s t i v a l o f

C u r i o s i t y, w h i c h f i r s t to o k

p l a ce i n J u l y 2 0 1 3 . S t a g e d

i n v e n u e s a l l o v e r D u b l i n

C i t y e a c h J u l y, t h e Fe s t i v a l

b r i n g s to g e t h e r s c i e n ce

a n d te c h n o l o g y a n d t h e

a r t s i n a s e r i e s o f e v e n t s

fo r a l l t h e f a m i l y.

FOUNDATION ROLE

The RDS was a founding sponsor of the Festival of Curiosity

An official legacy project of Dublin City of Science 2012, the Festival arose from a desire to build on the achievement of the City of Science initiative. Director and co-Founder Vince McCarthy explains: "We wanted to celebrate curiosity, and to create a positive cultural association with science for new audiences that wouldn't normally be interested in science subjects By staging events in Dublin City Centre, in unusual venues like Smock Alley, instead of traditional venues such as universities, we created inclusive environments Once you do that, you allow people to create and explore – you empower them"

Unique

The Festival's three-year business plan took a unique and innovative approach, with four key partners involved from the beginning – the RDS, the Matheson Foundation, Science Foundation Ireland and Dublin City Council

"We had support from national and local government, corporate philanthropy and private philanthropy, all working together to improve Irish society," says Vince McCarthy

"The RDS was very supportive They got behind us from the beginning. The RDS is a rare entity in Irish society. They are

private, but not corporate, and offered us practical support, including office space, to get the project off the ground."

The Festival was an excellent fit with the RDS's stated aim to promote science in Ireland, especially among young people The Society was delighted to be involved in incubating the project from its inception, as Foundation Director Joanna Quinn explains: "Our Foundation Development Manager Dr Claire Mulhall was involved in Dublin City of Science 2012, and our involvement in the Festival of Curiosity arose from that The Festival completed a three-pronged approach to the promotion of science for the RDS. The RDS Primary Science Fair addresses classroom-based involvement for primary school-aged children, and our STEM Learning project was set up to address teachers' needs, so the Festival of Curiosity had an important role in providing informal STEM learning opportunities that parents and children can do together"

Success from the outset

In its first year, the Festival welcomed a fantastic 32,000 people over the four days Daytime events such as the Curiosity Train brought families together to engage with science and technology

in creative ways, while evening theatre and comedy events take the cultural angle to adults Numbers have continued to rise each year, and in 2015 over 40,000 people attended.

Hitting all objectives

As its three-year business plan came to an end in 2015, the Festival organisers engaged international consultants Hope-Stone Research to carry out a detailed external evaluation Attendees were surveyed during the Festival, and a follow-up survey looked at the longer-term impacts of attendance

According to Vince McCarthy, the results were extremely positive, and show that the Festival is meeting its stated objectives of providing a platform for families to engage with science as a cultural activity, create a positive association with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, use curiosity to create a platform for new audiences and partners to engage with science, and create a new test bed for methods of engagement, to make Ireland a world-leader in public engagement with science "The people attending were very interesting audiences, reflecting a broad social spread, and showing that we were not simply preaching to the converted One in four people attending had no education beyond Leaving Certificate, and half were people who would not necessarily be interested in science subjects." The evaluation also showed that the Festival had a hugely positive effect in terms of building people's confidence around science

Some 90% said they felt more positive about the role of science in theirs and their family's life, and 77% said that attendance made them feel more confident talking about science and technology

The follow-up survey showed further positive effects, with 87% of respondents saying they had discussed ideas from the Festival with friends or family who hadn't attended, 95% saying they had looked for similar events to attend, and 65% saying they had

researched science topics further for themselves Some 13% contacted or researched a school or college about doing a science or technology course as a result of attending the Festival.

For Vince, the impact on families is a crucial one: "54% of people were prompted to do science-related activities at home or in their communities – they went home and did experiments with their kids, and that's brilliant Not everyone will want to do a degree in science but if they gain the confidence to talk about it, then we have achieved our aims Our job is to nurture curiosity – to create confidence

Because of the results of this evaluation, we can say that the Festival had these effects: that if you do these things, make things inclusive, and give people the tools to explore, then you can bring about concrete change in people's lives".

Future

While celebrating the excellent results of this first evaluation, the Festival organisers are eager to build on their achievements

"We've shown what's possible, now we need the courage and confidence to take this forward In another few years – imagine the things we could do! And we couldn't have done this without the support of our partners, including the RDS."

With plans to significantly scale up the Primary Science Fair and STEM Learning projects, the RDS Committee of Science & Technology decided that involvement with the Festival should finish this year, but this support has been in keeping with the aims and traditions of the Society, as Joanna Quinn explains: "Over the course of its existence, the RDS has often sought to act as a catalyst for projects, helping them in the early stages and then stepping back to allow them to develop on their own path We are very proud of the fact that we helped to set it up, and feel sure it will go from strength to strength."

Expanding RDS science innovation

Though many RDS Members would know of the Fair, some won’t be familiar with it, so just what is the RDS Primary Science Fair?

The RDS Primary Science Fair showcases science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects from primary schools across Ireland. Applications from classes are made at the start of the school year, with many investigations harnessing children’s innate curiosity to investigate the science behind the everyday The Fair is fully managed by the RDS, is a non-competitive event and looks to engage the entire class in a science-related investigation It’s a vital element of our work to innovate in science education

Has it been successful so far?

Very much so I’ve spoken to teachers who have claimed it to be “one of the most complete experiences” for their class. I know

judges who are tremendously impressed with the excitement and enthusiasm that it generates among children And each year, as a judge myself, I speak to some of the thousands of children involved, and their energy and passion for science is compelling What’s very interesting are the benefits beyond the curriculum. While the Fair sets out to foster a love of science and reward children for thinking rather than knowing, the social skills, literacy development and confidence that the projects give to the children are just as important

Why is the RDS involved in this type of work rather than science lectures that would be more traditionally associated with the Society?

The RDS continues to award the Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence on a biennial basis. This is Ireland’s most prestigious

CREATIVE LEARNING

The

scientific award and there is an accompanying lecture by the recipient The decision was made some years ago by the RDS Foundation Board and the RDS Committee of Science and Technology to invest in the area of primary-aged science education, targeting children, parents and teachers.

Why has the RDS expanded the Fair to Limerick?

For the past number of years the RDS Primary Science Fair has been heavily over-subscribed This expansion, in association with the Irish American Partnership, will enable up to 2,000 additional children to participate – that’s on top of the approximately 3,000 who participate in Dublin each year Limerick was chosen as an easy-to-get-to location from a number of surrounding counties, and the involvement of Mary Immaculate College means that we are able to tap into best practice in primary education Munster has always had a good representation in the Fair, but we have seen a noticeable increase in applications from Limerick and the surrounding counties, which we are putting down to their proximity to the venue

When is this happening?

And what has happened to date?

The RDS Primary Science Fair Dublin will take place on January 7-9 alongside the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, while the RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick will take place on January 15-16 in Mary Immaculate College Schools chose which Fair they would like to display their project in at the time of submission of their plans via www rds ie/primaryscience

This webpage gives them all the information about entering, including the types of school projects that have previously been exhibited.

What kind of projects do schools submit?

The Fair taps into children’s natural curiosity, encouraging them to engage with and question the everyday world around them, and focusing on the development of core curriculum skills. Projects that are being worked on for the Fairs in Dublin and Limerick in January include:

n Does curly hair produce more static electricity?

n How clean are our pencils?

n How many colours of food dyes are present in Smarties?

n What effects do worms have on vegetative growth?

n Why are soap suds always white?

What other organisations are involved?

What are they doing?

The Limerick event is being developed in association with the Boston-based Irish American Partnership, and is also being supported by Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, and the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition The RDS has invested significantly in the development of the Fair and fully manages and runs the event, as we have been doing successfully for the past seven years

What else does the RDS do in science education?

The RDS Primary Science Fair is one of three elements of the RDS Science programme. RDS STEM Learning is a CPD programme for primary school teachers, supporting them to develop their knowledge, confidence and skills to be more creative with science in the classroom The RDS was also one of the founding partners of the Festival of Curiosity This festival opens up the magic and wonder of science to children and adults alike, in an informal setting through cultural and playful media

You can read more about the Festival of Curiosity and the supporting role of the RDS on pages 6-7.

Great expectations: RDS Membership

I t ’s n o t j u s t a b o u t w h a t y o u r S o c i e t y c a n d o fo r y o u , b u t w h a t y o u c a n d o fo r y o u r S o c i e t y.

The benefits of RDS Membership are well established, not least the Members’ Club, meeting rooms, the workspace of the Library, parking in Ballsbridge, entertaining guests in beautiful surroundings, the Dublin Horse Show, and many more besides But the core aim of the RDS is to see Ireland thrive culturally and economically, with Members having a central role to play Reflecting this balance of benefits and expectations that resides within RDS Membership, we have examined one new Member benefit that began recently, as well as the role of RDS Member as envisaged by the RDS Membership Committee.

Breakfast briefings not just for business

Started earlier this year, this series of practical and useful business breakfasts allows RDS Members to network as well as learn Now organised by the new Membership Development Manager, Catherine Jordan, the series introduces experts in business or business-related fields to RDS Members Members are given a discounted price to attend; non-Members can be invited to attend by RDS Members, but are asked to pay the full price of €20 The impressive line-up of speakers has so far included Jonathan

Bell, who spoke about adapting business networking to the situation and style of the people around you, which was a psychological approach to 'one-to-ones', as well as being insightful business practice Brendan Maguire, an expert in digital marketing, shared his knowledge on engaging with LinkedIn effectively for business, rather than the social blogging network that many use it for, or in the haphazard and sporadic method that many others adopt Finally, Damien O’Brien, a lecturer in business strategy, gave his thought-provoking theories on why some businesses succeed when others struggle. His breakfast was peppered with ideas for attendees around transforming businesses from good to great!

Earlier this year we heard from Senior Partnerships & Field Marketing Manager with Airbnb Sarah Murphy, who gave a fascinating insight into one of Dublin’s newest FDI start-ups in the so-called ‘Silicon Docks’ (Charlotte Quay) Following her was Olwen Dawe, MD of Irish Business Intelligence and President of Network Ireland, who enlightened Members and their guests through anecdotes and tales of her own journey through the Irish business sector. Concluding this triumvirate, Director of Consumer

Affairs with the AA, Conor Faughnan, gave a thought-provoking presentation on Ireland’s infrastructure and the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles, leaving attendees with much food for thought The core aim of the RDS is to see Ireland thriving culturally and economically The breakfast briefings are one way in which the RDS is contributing to the health of the RDS business community, and to see Members thrive in their respective areas, as well as providing a social setting for Members to meet

Give the Gift of RDS Membership

Yo u r R D S ‘ G i f t o f M e m b e r s h i p ’ w i l l b e b e a u t i f u l l y a n d p ro fe s s i o n a l l y p re s e n te d

a n d p a c ka g e d , m a k i n g a u n i q u e

C h r i s t m a s p re s e n t .

Membership of the RDS is the perfect gift for family members, friends, or business colleagues at any time of year, especially at Christmas.

Benefits include:

n exclusive access to the RDS Members’ Club; n elegant and wellappointed meeting rooms; n complimentary five-day entry to the Discover

Defining the role of the RDS Member

Ireland Dublin Horse Show; n support for RDS philanthropic work; and, n access to reciprocal clubs worldwide.

For more details, or to purchase the Gift of RDS Membership, contact: Catherine Jordan, Tel: 01 2407296, or via email at catherine@rds.ie, or log on to www.rds.ie/membership.

Our Society was founded in 1731 to further the broad economic and cultural development of Ireland

Today the RDS operates as a catalyst locally, regionally and throughout the island of Ireland, to ensure that coming generations can fulfil their potential.

Our Members are a unique combination of people working together in the areas of agriculture, arts, industry, science and equestrianism to find relevant solutions to meet future economic and cultural need.

The Society benefits from having Members with a variety of backgrounds and disciplines who are confident that their collective ability will effect change Our purpose is to inspire innovative thinking by promoting new ideas and being progressive in our approach.

Just as it was for our founders, we as Members today are committed to advancing those areas laid out in our Charters through our voluntary participation and subscriptions We enable positive change by sharing our resources, expertise and skills to support and encourage pioneering initiatives

As RDS Members, we take pride in our obligation to promote our Society’s work and ethos while maintaining its independence We share a commitment to see it contribute even more to Ireland in the future than it has in the past

As a Member of the Society, we encourage you to actively support and promote the Society’s purpose and values, and recognise the importance of your role in helping to achieve this.

Social times

RISING STARS

STEM LEARNING

Programme

SERVICES TO FORESTRY

Pat Coffey and Ivor Clegg, winners at this year's RDS–Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards

BRIDGE CHAMPIONS

STRONG TRADITION

The Maher family attending the recent lunch for RDS Members of 50 years' standing or more

BOOK LOVERS

Thursday Reading Circle Members at a recent meeting in the Library Contact the Library Desk at 01 2407254 if you are interested in joining one of the reading circles

DECEMBER CLASSES 2016

26 Computer classes every Tuesday for 4 weeks

Computer classes will take place from January 26 until February 16, from 10 30am-12 30pm in the Members' Club

¤40 Members/¤48 Non-Members

26 Afternoon bridge every Tuesday for 6 weeks

Sally Dawson hosts these afternoon classes on Tuesdays from January 26 until March 1, from 2 30pm-4 30pm in the Members' Club

The cost is ¤5 per game and you must bring a par tner to play

8 Bridge classes every Monday for 10 weeks

These afternoon classes with Peter Pigot take place on Mondays from February 8 until April 18, from 2 30pm-4 30pm

¤150 Members/¤180 Non-Members

8 Fitness classes every Monday for 10 weeks

Sylvia Fleming offers two oppor tunities to get fit on Mondays, from 11 00am12 00pm, and 12 15pm-1 15pm, from February 8 until April 18

¤66 Members/¤80 Non-Members

8 Ar t classes every Tuesday for 6 weeks

Ar t classes with Suzanna Webb will take place on Tuesday afternoons from March 8 until April 12, from 3 00pm-5 30pm ¤175 Members/¤200 Non-Members

All materials supplied

Advance booking is essential for all Members' classes and events.

Please contact Susan Cox, Tel: 01 2407244, email: members@rds.ie, or log on to www.rds.ie/membership.

Carols RDS Concer t Hall – 3 30pm Members' Annual Christmas Carol Concer t

This event is booked out If you wish to join the waiting list, pleast contact the RDS Members’ desk

Christmas Eve Carols in the Library Carols in the Library at 12 30pm

JANUARY

Economic Vision 2020 – RDS Merrion Room – 6.00pm

Mark Roden, founder and CEO of Ding, will share his company ’s stor y, which saw him crowned 2014 EY Entrepreneur of the Year

FEBRUARY

Who Lunch’ with Ann Doyle Members' Dining Room, 12.30pm-2.30pm. Cost applies.

Aidan Cotter, CEO, Bord Bia, will discuss the great success story that is the Irish food industry, and outline his vision for fur ther development and growth in the sector

A Year in a Lifetime's Quest

Thomas Pakenham, critically acclaimed author, photographer and champion of trees, will share insights and stories about the life of some of the large trees to be found at his residence in Tullynally

MARCH

3 Afternoon tea with live classical music –

7 ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ with Beatrice Doran –Members'

9 RDS Library Speaker Series – RDS Library – 6.30pm

Rebuilding Dublin after 1916

Robin Mandal, outgoing President of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, will show how Dublin was rebuilt in the aftermath of 1916 and the turbulent years that heralded the birth of independent Ireland

10 Business Breakfast Briefing & Networking Event – Samuel Madden Room – 7 30am Cost applies Kay McCarthy, The Planning Agency: Finding your brand and articulating it

23 RDS Library Speaker Series – RDS Library – 6.30pm

Lord Rosse and the Deep-Sky Astronomy at Birr Castle –

An important step in the history of science From 1845 to 1878, Birr Castle was among the most important centres for observations of nebulae and star clusters Its main instrument was the 72-inch reflector, built by William Parsons (Lord Rosse) This talk from Wolfgang Steinicke will show how the construction of the telescope opened a new window to the universe

23 Book launch: William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse Astronomy and the Castle in nineteenth–century Ireland –RDS Library

The lecture by Wolfgang Steinicke on Lord Rosse and the Deep-Sky Astronomy at Birr Castle will be followed by the launch of the book William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse: Astronomy and the castle in nineteenth–century Ireland, to which he has contributed a paper

30 Ian Fox Talks: Shakespeare in the Theatre –RDS Members' Club – 12.00pm-1.15pm

APRIL

A Masque for Minerva with the Dublin Shakespeare Society – RDS Concer t Hall – 7 00pm ¤10 per seat Numbers are limited to 400 Book online through www rds ie from December 14 or in person at the RDS Library

Business Breakfast Briefing & Networking Event – Samuel Madden Room – 7.30am. Cost applies. Sandra Hennessy, BeDynamic: 10 SEO tips that you need to know

RDS Library

–

Minerva

– 6 30pm Lords, Linen and Lace – The involvement of some O'Brien family members with the RDS The O'Brien family has been involved with the RDS for over 250 years Veronica Rowe will discuss some of the personalities, including Sir Lucius O'Brien in the eighteenth century, William Smith O'Brien in the nineteenth and Florence Vere O'Brien in the twentieth

to Kilmacurragh Arboretum – Depar ting RDS at 9.30am for guided tour at 11.00am. Cost applies.

– 6 30pm

Dublin: One City, One Book – Turning a Novel Inside-Out and Upside Down RDS Member Lia Mills describes the process of writing her novel Fallen, the Dublin: One City One Book choice for 2016 She will talk about research and keeping your mind open to what it shows; the stages of writing; and about how she –and the novel – changed along the way

Series4

Please join us for these fascinating presentations Admission to lectures is free and open to the public , but booking is essential Call 01-240 7254, email: librarydesk@rds ie, or log on to www rds ie/speakerseries

Busy agenda

The commercial operations of the RDS are an essential element in funding the needs of the Society and I am happy to report that 2015 has been a very good year in that respect We have seen growth in the volume of events using our facilities, including the return of some shows that we haven’t seen in recent times This reflects the growing confidence in the economy and the trend is positive for 2016 with a list of strong bookings for our venue operations We have continued to invest in developing our facilities and upgraded our broadband service to rival international venues many times our size, as well as investing in lighting and other infrastructural items. The Dodder Suite has been upgraded and in the Members’ Club the Samuel Madden Room has been developed, providing a space for Members that is more conducive to the needs of business Members, as well as being an excellent social space

The feedback on the 2015 Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show has been very positive and is reflective of the changes made and new classes introduced by the Equestrian Committee over several years Cumulatively, these moves have resulted in the equestrian and entertainment programmes working together very effectively. The 2016 Show will move away from the traditional first week in August to July 20-24 (due to the Olympics), and we are confident that the Show will succeed in retaining its major entries and big attendance

Developing our resources

In relation to the development of the Main Arena, we have spent the second half of 2015 working closely with the design team that includes architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors and construction professionals. Our major task is to deliver the development in a 12-month window between Dublin Horse Shows while meeting the needs of Leinster Rugby match requirements –which is complex and difficult to achieve The task places great emphasis on getting the design aspect correct before proceeding to seek planning permission and then moving to construction As much as the design element is critical, the planning of the logistics of construction needs to be accurate and realistic if we are to deliver the project in the necessary timescale As soon as these plans are agreed, the request for planning permission will be submitted and

we will keep Members informed at each stage of the process. Meanwhile, we retain planning permission for a second office block, which would comprise 11,400m2 of office space The first office block has been a great success and provides a very important stream of income for the Society We have extended the duration of planning permission for the second office block and will continue to give this development careful consideration The Council of the Society has been consistently prudent in matters of financial management. This has proven successful and protective of Society affairs, and the Council is committed to continuing its prudent approach

Our philanthropic work programme

The core aim of the RDS, our philanthropic work programme, has been underpinned by the establishment of the Foundation Board The various Committees deserve great credit for increasing the impact and scale of many of their projects, and in attracting institutional and philanthropic funding to enable these projects to expand even further.

Indeed, engagement has been a key focus throughout 2015. The Society has increased the opportunities for Members to meet and interact with each other, and to enjoy the benefits that membership of this Society brings I hope that you will enjoy as many of them as possible in the coming year, while knowing that this Society also conveys significant benefits to others through our philanthropic work programme, which seeks to help Ireland to realise its potential

I am grateful to all the Officers, the various Board and Committee members, the management and the staff of the Society for their continued hard work and commitment to the greater good – and I wish you a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2016

Michael Duffy, Chief Executive.