Medals

Since 1770, the College Historical Society has recognised excellence by awarding Medals to students who demonstrate outstanding ability in History, Composition, and Oratory. We continue this tradition today, awarding a maximum of two Medals in each category per session. Each Medallist is also awarded a cash prize and the Marked Thanks of the Society, making them eligible for Honorary Membership. Click the links below to learn more about how we award medals in each category.

History of the Medals

In the early days of the Hist, the Society’s focus was split between three main pursuits: history, composition and oratory. At each weekly meeting, following a discussion on a historical topic and the evening’s debate, essays and poems which had been submitted to the Society were read by the Chair. Gold and silver medals were awarded to recognise excellence in one of these three disciplines.

The first medal to be introduced was the Medal for Composition in 1770. In the first generation of the Society, the winning compositions were transcribed into a journal – called the Composition Book – for posterity.

The Medal for History was introduced in 1777 and the Medal for Oratory in 1781. The latter has been traditionally awarded annually using a ballot system which is still in use today. The medals for History and Composition, which fell out of use during the 20th century, were revived in the Hist’s 250th year. Though usually awarded annually, medals were sometimes awarded for special occasions within the history of the Society or in the wider world.

Medallists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries included founding member of the United Irishmen Wolfe Tone, who won three medals during his time at the Hist; Charles Kendal Bushe, later Lord Chief Justice; and William Conyngham Plunket, later Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Medals for Composition were awarded to poets Charles Wolfe and John Martin Anster.

The Hist of the 1850s onwards focused on oratory over history and composition, as many of its alumni became known for their use of oratorical skill and debate in the House of Commons. Gold medallists in Oratory around this time included Edward Gibson (later Lord Ashbourne), David Robert Plunket (later Lord Rathmore, and grandson of William Conyngham Plunket) and William Edward Hartpole Lecky (later Professor of History), who all represented Dublin University as MPs.