RIAI welcomes New Members and Fellows at the 2026 Certificate Presentation Ceremony
The RIAI was delighted to welcome new Members and Fellows at the Presentation of RIAI Membership Certificates, which took place on Wednesday, 21 May 2026, in the Pepper Canister Church, Dublin.
The ceremony celebrated Members admitted to the RIAI during the Membership Activation Period from May 2025 to May 2026. This year’s included 204 Architects, 12 Architectural Technologists and 114 Architectural Graduates. In addition, 41 Members elected to the RIAI Fellowship in November 2025 were recognised during the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, RIAI President Fionnuala May FRIAI highlighted how those in the architectural professions work "every day to shape the places where people live their lives":
"We translate ideas into places; we formulate the ideas that our clients can’t articulate or imagine; we start them off and then lead them on the way. The places that we make for them influence how lives are lived – they influence behaviour, comfort, safety and community. In the pressure of work, we rarely pause to acknowledge that the work we do carries huge responsibility, but even greater possibility. We all know architecture is more than drawings, specifications, planning consents, project management, and all the rest of it. We have to understand people, culture, technology, policy and the environment simultaneously. We solve problems that no one else sees yet. By listening to our clients, we translate our experience into their building. We balance constraints that few others ever have to consider - and we do it because we believe … we believe in the power of design to improve the human experience."
A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of Honorary Membership to Dr John Logan for his "pioneering research and energetic dissemination of architectural and social history, which have made a profound contribution to understanding the urban, architectural, and social development of Limerick city. His scholarly work and generosity in sharing his knowledge with practitioners, researchers and the wider architectural community have had a lasting impact on architectural culture in the region and beyond. His expertise in urban form, architectural history and research methods continues to be an invaluable resource to the profession.' (Citation by Peter Carroll FRIAI)
The ceremony also included addresses from the RIAI CEO, Kathryn Meghen, who provided updates on the RIAI's work on behalf of its Members, and from the RIAI Professional Practice Examination Convenor, Dr Carole Pollard FRIAI.
In total, 166 Fellows and Members received their certificates in the presence of family, friends and colleagues. A further 53 graduates of the Case Study Programme 2024 and the RIAI Professional Practice Examination 2025 also received graduation certificates during the event. Congratulations were also extended to the recipients of this year’s academic distinctions. Joint First Place with Distinction was awarded to Stacey Elbert, MRIAI, and Garreth Byrne, MRIAI. The Deirdre O’Connor Medal was presented to Conor Kenny, MRIAI.
Congratulations to all recipients, and our very best wishes for your continued success in this great profession.