The RDS Simmonscourt site in Ballsbridge, Dublin, can host conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners and corporate receptions, from a board meeting of 48 people to a conference of 3,500 delegates in a single hall. The venue is run by the Royal Dublin Society on a 43-acre campus in the embassy belt of Dublin, and it sells hire of its halls, meeting rooms and the Laya Arena.
Seminars and company events
The RDS presents its venue hire around conferences for 1,000 delegates or more, large exhibitions, gala dinners, concerts and sporting events. Smaller business meetings are also covered: the Committee Room seats 48 theatre style, the Presidents Room 50, and the Minerva Suite 130. The Merrion Room takes 100 in theatre layout and 90 at banquet tables.
The Concert Hall Complex adds two mid-size options. The Clyde Room (Hall 6) covers 374.6 square meters and holds 280 theatre style or 200 banqueting. The RDS Concert Hall (Hall 7) covers 653.8 square meters and holds 1,000 theatre style or 400 at banquet tables. The Lansdowne Room offers 186.9 square meters for 170 theatre style or 140 banquet.
Rooms and capacities
The Main Hall Complex holds the largest spaces. Hall 1 (Main Hall) measures 3,503 square meters and takes 3,500 theatre style or 1,900 banquet. Hall 2 (Shelbourne Hall) measures 2,238 square meters for 3,000 theatre or 1,200 banquet. Hall 3 (Serpentine Hall) measures 1,072 square meters for 800 theatre or 600 banquet. Hall 4 (Industries Hall) measures 2,285 square meters for 2,200 theatre or 1,400 banquet.
Hall 5 is divided into five Gallagher Suites. Suites 5A and 5B each seat 100 theatre style, with 70 and 90 at banquet tables. Suites 5C, 5D and 5E are small rooms of 28.8 to 36.8 square meters for 30 to 35 people theatre style or 20 at tables. The Grand Hall measures 431 square meters and holds 400 theatre style or 200 banquet. Outdoor and reception options include the Ring Hall (1,515 square meters), the Band Lawn (1,000 square meters) and the Triple Bar, which receives about 100 for a reception.
The Simmonscourt Complex (Hall 8) is listed as a further event space on the floor plans.
Laya Arena
The Laya Arena is the campus stadium. The RDS states up to 40,000 attendees for concerts and up to 20,600 for sporting events. Inside the Anglesea Stand, three suites are offered for meetings and events of 100 to 500 people, such as conferences, board meetings, corporate receptions, training, product launches and hospitality. They include audiovisual equipment, flexible seating, natural light and direct access to the arena bowl. The President's Suite takes 120 for casual dining or 70 for formal dining, and the Simmonscourt Suite takes 200 casual or 128 formal. Capacities are subject to a risk assessment for each event and drop if a cloakroom is added.
Catering
Catering and hospitality are offered by the RDS itself, and an ICT and audio-visual service describes its infrastructure as scalable. The venue site also lists a page of sustainability information and downloadable documents for organisers.
Accommodation
The RDS does not have bedrooms on site. Its venue hire pages list a set of accommodation partners to help delegates find rooms near Ballsbridge.
History and setting
The Royal Dublin Society dates back nearly 300 years, and its venue income funds its charitable work in agriculture, arts, enterprise, equestrian activity and science. The campus also hosts the Dublin Horse Show and Leinster Rugby matches, so the calendar is busy and early enquiries help.
Getting there
The campus is on Simmonscourt Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, a residential and diplomatic district south of the city center. The venue site has a Plan Your Visit section for directions and parking.
