Medals for Oratory

Since 1780, the Hist has recognised students who demonstrate exceptional ability and skill in the art of oratory, rhetoric, and debate by awarding the prestigious Medals in Oratory.

Past recipients range from republican revolutionary Theobald Wolfe Tone to first President of Ireland Douglas Hyde to UN General Assembly President Frederick Boland, attesting that our Medallists are among some of Ireland’s best and brightest.

As per the Laws of the Society, a maximum of two Medals in Oratory may be awarded in any one session, though the awarding of medals, especially the Gold Medal, is a rare occurrence. The John A. Boland Memorial Prize Fund provides €200 per annum to accompany the medals themselves.

Medals are awarded based on the “oratory returns” from our Wednesday night chamber debates. Oratory returns are a feedback form given to audience members, where they can rate each speaker in the debate. Medals are awarded to speakers who consistently receive excellent scores.

The society offers three levels of award to members who are considered by the General Committee to have met the standard required in Oratory to receive them. These are the Marked Thanks for Oratory, the Silver Medal in Oratory and the Gold Medal in Oratory.

We wish to express our sincerest gratitude to John and Ann Boland for their commitment to the cultivation of oratory and the encouragement of young people, as well as their exceptional support for both the College Historical Society and Trinity College.