RDS Foundation Festival - Finding Common Ground
For almost 300 years, the RDS has been turning ideas into action. Today our greatest challenge is a divided landscape - where environmental needs, economic realities, and social change often seem at odds. Finding Common Ground was created because we believe that the solution isn't found in one sector, but in the space between them. We aren't just hosting conversations - we are using our unique heritage to bring the farmer, the artist, the science and the citizen together. We do this because a thriving Ireland requires a shared vision and common ground is the only place where that vision can grow.
Join us on 15 & 16 April for the Finding Common Ground Festival to explore how Ireland can address shared environmental and societal challenges, especially climate action, sustainable resource use, and skills gaps. Building on the RDS’s heritage of advancing agriculture, science, industry, and the arts for public good, the festival offers a platform for open dialogue, collaboration, and cross‑sector learning at a time when complex challenges require collective solutions.
Day 1 - Wednesday, 15 April
Poetry Performance: Fréamhacha // Roots by Cormac Mac Gearailt
1pm, RDS Library, Free Admission
Spoken word poet Cormac Mac Gearailt presents a selection of his award-winning work. Delivered in both the English and Irish languages, Cormac will explore heritage and tradition, as well as ecological and language loss, the threats to nature and the world, and what must be done to tackle them.
Beginning with the seed that takes root, Cormac’s work will move through tradition, loss and crisis, and end on a note of hope and the need for collective action, all delivered in his trademark engaging, embodied style.
Summit: Revitalising Rural Communities through our Heritage Assets
2pm, RDS Library, Tickets €5
Ireland’s rural landscapes are shaped by heritage buildings that carry deep cultural, architectural and historic value. The question is not whether these structures matter, but how we ensure they continue to serve and strengthen the communities around them.
Through presentations and panel conversations, we will examine successful examples of adaptive reuse, highlight available funding supports, and explore how communities, planners, landowners and local authorities can work together to unlock the potential of these assets.
Summit: Future Skills - Bridging the Digital Divide
4pm, RDS Library, Tickets €5
Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we live, learn and work. The question is not whether change is coming, but whether Ireland is ready for it. This event brings together leaders from industry, education and policy to explore how we equip people with the skills needed for a fast-changing digital economy. As technology moves at pace, this session creates space for practical, cross-sector discussion on how we respond together.
Through expert panels and facilitated discussion, we will examine how to close digital skills gaps, strengthen education and training pathways, and develop policies that ensure opportunity is shared across society.
Stand-Up Showcase: Comedy for Climate
7pm, RDS Triple Bar, Tickets €10
Join some of Ireland's favourite comedians while they navigate the Climate Crisis through the renewable power of Comedy! Hitting on hilarious topics such as Climate Justice, Ecology & Sustainability no comedy stone will be left unturned! Serious times call for humorous measures so we can laugh, learn and connect together while firing into action!
Featuring award winning Colm O'Regan (author of Climate Worrier), Diane O'Connor ( The Accidental Activist), Aine Gallagher (aka "Queen of the Off Beat") and Joe Rooney (Father Ted) . Collectively they have played every top club and festival in Ireland and together we will laugh our way to a better future, probably...
Day 2 - Thursday, 16 April
Meet the Artist: Navigating the Forest
10:30am, RDS Library, Free Admission
“Navigating the Forest” is a sculptural installation of nine partially carved branches from an oak tree grown in Ireland from an acorn brought back from the Somme after World War I. Drawing on the archetype of the World Tree, the artist engraves map‑like patterns into the branches to explore how humans understand, use, and damage natural resources and ecosystems. Arranged as a ritual grove, the work invites viewers to reflect on their relationship with land and ecology, while a central uncarved branch invites them to mark places of personal meaning, creating a collective map of all who engage with the piece.
Join the artist Murrough O'Donovan on a tour of his sculptural installation.
Summit: Shaping the Future of Irish Forestry
11am, RDS Library, Tickets €5
Join us for an engaging session, where past winners of the RDS Forest & Woodland Awards share their insights on overcoming the sector’s biggest challenges. Through practical guidance on navigating finance, adopting effective management approaches and unlocking the full potential of Climate‑Smart forestry, this event offers attendees a rare opportunity to learn directly from those leading the way in sustainable woodland creation and stewardship. Discover what’s working on the ground, hear inspiring success stories, and gain the knowledge needed to build a resilient, thriving forestry sector for Ireland.
Live Podcast Recording: RDS Vision 300 Series X That Great Business Show
5:30pm, RDS Members' Club, Tickets €5
Join us for a live podcast recording of That Great Business Show with host Conall Ó Móráin, featuring past speakers of the RDS Vision 300 series. This dynamic session will revisit big ideas, bold innovations, and the insights shaping Ireland’s future, as our guests reflect on their Vision 300 contributions and explore what’s next for business, society and sustainability. Expect lively conversation, fresh perspectives and the chance to experience the energy of the podcast, live and in person
Exhibition: 300 Years of Harnessing Ireland's Natural Resources
April 15 & 16, RDS Library
For almost 300 years the RDS has responded to the needs and priorities of Ireland, addressing gaps in the development of our culture and economy that have shaped the country. The Finding Common Ground Festival continues this legacy, focusing on climate action, sustainable resource use and bridging gaps in skills. This exhibition, using materials from the RDS Library & Archives, traces the Society’s journey from its 1731 origins to today: from the introduction of its premium scheme to support agriculture, enterprise and small businesses in the 18th century, to the organisation of its agricultural shows in the 19th and 20th centuries. In this exhibition, Natasha Serne, RDS Head of Library and Archives, explores the ways in which the RDS realised its foundation aims in the past and what we do today to find common ground with our partners to identify solutions for Ireland’s continued success into the future.
We look forward to welcoming you to the RDS for the third annual Foundation Festival!
For all queries in relation to the festival, please contact rdsfoundationfestival@rds.ie
RDS Foundation Award Ceremonies
2026 RDS Agriculture & Forestry Awards
16 April, 1pm, RDS Concert Hall
This joint awards ceremony will celebrate the individuals, farm families, organisations, forestry and woodland owners who are driving economic, environmental and social progress in rural Ireland, from those strengthening agriculture and rural communities to those adopting Climate‑Smart forestry practices that champion sustainable management, environmental protection and biodiversity. Please note, this event is invitation only. Please contact agriculture@rds.ie if you have any questions.
2026 RDS Circular Economy Awards
16 April, 7pm, RDS Concert Hall
Celebrating the impactful organisations, entrepreneurs and innovators championing the circular economy and showcasing its tangible benefits for producers and consumers through these prestigious awards. Please note, this event is invitation only. Please contact enterprise@rds.ie if you have any questions.
