Sheep farming is an important indigenous industry in Ireland that is worth more than €250 million each year to the economy. Through this Award the RDS, in collaboration with Macra na Feirme and the Irish Farmers Journal, acknowledges the importance of this industry.
The RDS Allotment Awards aim to recognise the hard work, dedication and attention to detail that is being undertaken by those involved in allotment gardening and also to promote an area that encourages people to become more aware of rural issues.
The RDS Irish Forestry Awards promote standards of excellence in the production of native forests and trees. The Awards continue the historic involvement of the RDS in the development of Irish forestry which saw over 55 million trees planted in Ireland from 1766 - 1806 through the Society's land improvement and afforestation projects.
Inaugurated in 1899, the Boyle Medal continues to recognise scientific research of exceptional merit and remains to this day Ireland's premier science award.
The RDS Student Art Awards has an annual prize fund in excess of €16,000. Encompassing the RDS Taylor Art Award which has been awarded since 1860, the Awards are the most prestigious art awards open to registered art students of all award-bearing courses in Ireland.
There has been a history of promoting crafts in the RDS since 1888, when the first of the Society's Art and Industries Exhibitions featuring lace and embroidery was held at the Horse and Sheep Show. The RDS Crafts Competition in its current form was founded in 1968. With a prize fund in excess of €24,000 shared over 20 categories, the RDS National Crafts Competition is one of Europe’s leading independently adjudicated craft competitions.
The RDS Gold Medal Award for Industry is one of the Society's flagship awards, recognising excellence in industry. It is awarded annually to an individual who has made an exceptional impact on industry and commerce.
With a prize fund of €10,000, the RDS Music Bursary is one of the largest single bursaries on offer to a young musician in Europe. Open to both vocalists and instrumentalists, the Bursary aims to assist a young professional musician develop their career through further study at home or abroad or for the purchase of a suitable musical instrument.
The RDS and Teagasc collaborate on the Walsh Research Fellowship to encourage high calibre graduates to stay in Ireland and pursue their research interests. The Walsh Research Fellows undertake a broad spectrum of research including food processing, animal and crop production, soils and environment, agri-food economics and rural development.
The RDS and Teagasc share a common goal of applying science and innovation to the development of the agri-food sector and seeking to promote the development of rural Ireland. Since 1996, the two organisations collaborated to promote science through the Walsh Fellowship Award and Seminar.
