The Mark Cunningham Awards are presented by the Cunningham Family in memory of Mark Cunningham (1908 - 1980), late Assistant Director of Geological Survey Ireland.

Two College Prizes, of equal standing, are being awarded to the two best geological mapping project reports, submitted by Third Level Colleges in Ireland, for 2017.

The awards for the 18th Du Noyer Photographic Competition will also be presented at the ceremony along with the launch of Dissenting Spirit: Thomas Weaver, Geologist & Mining Engineer, the latest book from Peadar McArdle, former Director of Geological Survey Ireland.

Attendance to the informal ceremony is by invitation only.