ɪt wʌz ɪstˈæblɪʃt ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn baɪ ðɪ ˈɑːɹts kˈaʊnsəl ʌv ˈaɪɚlənd tʊ ˈɑːnɚɹ ˈɑːɹɾɪsts hˌuːz wˈɜːk hɐz mˌeɪd ɐn aʊtstˈændɪŋ kˌɑːntɹɪbjˈuːʃən tə ðə kɹiːˈeɪɾɪv ˈɑːɹts ɪn ˈaɪɚlənd, ænd tʊ ɛŋkˈɜːɹɪdʒ ænd ɐsˈɪst mˈɛmbɚz ɪn dɪvˈoʊɾɪŋ ðɛɹ ˈɛnɚdʒiz fˈʊli tə ðɛɹ ˈɑːɹt.
It was established in 1981 by the Arts Council of Ireland to honour artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland, and to encourage and assist members in devoting their energies fully to their art.