The College Ring
Item
Format
JPEG
Title
The College Ring
Identifier
VHS0001
Depiction
A ring with a dark red stone, along with views of it from below and from each side with engraved symbols thereon
Description
This is the College Ring, which used to be available, from the 1960s at least and perhaps earlier, for purchase by UCG students. It was not an engagement ring, but rather a token of affection for women students from their boyfriends, or of course students, both male and female, could purchase it for themselves.
The first image shows the head with a rectangular garnet gem in the setting. On the upper border is engraved IOLSCOIL (the old spelling for ‘Ollscoil’), and, on the lower border, ÉIREANN (both in the old Cló Gaelach script)– together, as IOLSCOIL ÉIREANN, referring to the NUI.
The second image shows the ring from underneath. The third image shows one of the sides or shoulders, with the Arms of the National University of Ireland and, below it, the initials of the College - UCG - engraved on it.
The fourth image shows the other side or shoulder, on which is engraved a symbol comprising two crossed quills, forming an A at the crossing point, on an open book, together with, on top, an antique lamp or vessel of some kind, and, beneath, what seem to be two figures. These elements appear to suggest, particularly as the vessel likely represents the Lamp of Learning, the arms of an educational institution or to signify an educational purpose. In response to an enquiry as to whether they reflect the Arms of some other institution, Micheál Ó Comáin (Herald of Arms) has confirmed that 'this is not a coat of arms, though somewhat heraldic in appearance', and that 'the book, quills and Lamp of Learning indicate that this is meant to represent or reflect an educational establishment as these are all fairly common charges to be found on the coats of arms of academic institutions'; as to the possible figures underneath, however, all he can suggest is that 'perhaps they were meant as an attempt at supporters'. He agrees with the suggestion that the engraver may simply have devised the design independently, deploying some suitable stock elements, in order to balance the NUI arms on the other side.
The ring itself was acquired as a replacement in the early 1970s by Anne and Hubert McDermott, who had to order it themselves direct from the engraver, Cuthbert (known as Cubby) O'Connor in Dublin, as the College Shop no longer processed such orders from students. In response to an enquiry to Cubby's daughter, Denise O'Connor (of RARE Jewellery Design, Dublin), as to any further information she might have regarding the unidentified design above, she was unable to cast any further light on the matter, but had located the original moulds used by her father.
The first image shows the head with a rectangular garnet gem in the setting. On the upper border is engraved IOLSCOIL (the old spelling for ‘Ollscoil’), and, on the lower border, ÉIREANN (both in the old Cló Gaelach script)– together, as IOLSCOIL ÉIREANN, referring to the NUI.
The second image shows the ring from underneath. The third image shows one of the sides or shoulders, with the Arms of the National University of Ireland and, below it, the initials of the College - UCG - engraved on it.
The fourth image shows the other side or shoulder, on which is engraved a symbol comprising two crossed quills, forming an A at the crossing point, on an open book, together with, on top, an antique lamp or vessel of some kind, and, beneath, what seem to be two figures. These elements appear to suggest, particularly as the vessel likely represents the Lamp of Learning, the arms of an educational institution or to signify an educational purpose. In response to an enquiry as to whether they reflect the Arms of some other institution, Micheál Ó Comáin (Herald of Arms) has confirmed that 'this is not a coat of arms, though somewhat heraldic in appearance', and that 'the book, quills and Lamp of Learning indicate that this is meant to represent or reflect an educational establishment as these are all fairly common charges to be found on the coats of arms of academic institutions'; as to the possible figures underneath, however, all he can suggest is that 'perhaps they were meant as an attempt at supporters'. He agrees with the suggestion that the engraver may simply have devised the design independently, deploying some suitable stock elements, in order to balance the NUI arms on the other side.
The ring itself was acquired as a replacement in the early 1970s by Anne and Hubert McDermott, who had to order it themselves direct from the engraver, Cuthbert (known as Cubby) O'Connor in Dublin, as the College Shop no longer processed such orders from students. In response to an enquiry to Cubby's daughter, Denise O'Connor (of RARE Jewellery Design, Dublin), as to any further information she might have regarding the unidentified design above, she was unable to cast any further light on the matter, but had located the original moulds used by her father.
References
- Personal communications from Anne and Hubert McDermott (and indirectly from Mary Murphy) in response to enquiries
- Personal communication from Micheál O Comáin (Herald of Arms) in response to an enquiry
-Personal communication from Denise O'Connor (RARE Jewellery Design, Dublin) in response to an enquiry
- Personal communication from Micheál O Comáin (Herald of Arms) in response to an enquiry
-Personal communication from Denise O'Connor (RARE Jewellery Design, Dublin) in response to an enquiry
Contributor
Bibliographic Citation
A. McDermott, H. McDermott, S. Mac Mathúna, 'The College Ring', Visual History Retired Staff Collection, University of Galway Digital Collections, Asset Id 14738, Archival Record Id VHR
Temporal Coverage
Period
1960s and 1970s
Category
colour
Language
English and Irish
Publisher
University of Galway Library
Rights
This image may be used for non-commercial purposes under CC BY-NC-SA see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/