In 1785, the Royal Irish Academy was founded in Dublin to promote the study of science, literature, and antiquities in Ireland. The Academy played a crucial role in preserving and studying Irish manuscripts and artifacts, contributing to the cultural revival that would later influence the Gaelic Revival. Its foundation marked a growing interest in Irish cultural identity among the educated classes, including many members of the Protestant Ascendancy.

The Royal Irish Academy's founding is a milestone in the history of Irish cultural preservation, and it is celebrated in the poetry of the period as a sign of Ireland's intellectual awakening. The Academy's publications, including its journal, provided a platform for the study of Irish poetry and language. Its work would later influence the poets of the Celtic Revival, who drew on the Academy's scholarly resources to ground their work in Irish tradition.