The keynote address from the inauguration of the Irish Academy of Management, University College Cork, September 12-13, 1996, is presented. Management research in Ireland in the context of the way forward for management education and in the context of major challenges and imperatives facing Irish business is discussed. A number of recent trends and developments in business education, as well as in the education sector more generally, are tilting the balance towards a growing appreciation of the role of research. Business schools aspiring to national pre-eminence and to international standing and reputation are likely to give, and to be expected to give, growing emphasis to research. Some proposals as to how the research community can improve the position of research in Irish business education are put forward.