Dublin University Fencing Club


Dublin University Fencing Club is the fencing club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, located in Dublin, Ireland. The club caters for foil, épée and sabre. Its members are students, alumni and staff from Trinity College with a small amount of visiting fencers from other clubs.

Early history

In 1730, a group of students from Trinity College formed a Gentleman's Club of the Sword, or the Gentleman's Society of the Sword as it has also been called. This club, while initially hugely popular fell out of use by the last quarter of the 18th century. In 1774, Provost John Hely-Hutchinson formally established fencing in Trinity by employing a fencing-master and designating the Senate House specifically for this purpose. With the further decline of duelling throughout the 18th and no record of the club throughout the 19th century, it is not until the formation of the modern D.U. Fencing Club in 1936 that the sport was reestablished in the college.

Present status

Since its foundation, DUFC has grown vastly. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, membership was about fifty fencers in general with an Intervarsities team of 8. In contrast, the 2009/2010 season saw intake of approximately 300 new members with an Intervarsities contingent of 24 competing, with similar numbers maintained in the club since.
The club's most decorated coach, Professor Patrick Duffy, coached the club from 1952 until 1987. Following his death in 1987, The Professor Duffy Memorial Team Épée tournament was inaugurated by D.U.Fencing Club. This competition is still run today and attracts teams from Germany, Italy and the U.K. regularly.
The club has maintained its status as a centre of excellence, consistently ranking at the top of the national club medal table in Ireland. During the 2017/18 season, Dublin University Fencing Club became part of the Trinity Sport high performance programme, giving its first team access to additional strength and conditioning coaching, physiotherapy, anti-doping and nutritional expertise.

Notable alumni

Since the formation of the modern club, a number of members have gone on to represent the club and their country in both fencing and the modern pentathlon. Some of these members are listed below.

Hosted competitions

D.U.Fencing Club hosts a number of competitions on an annual basis. Events currently hosted are listed below:
Known colloquially as Colours, The Colours Match is hosted yearly between Dublin University and University College Dublin with each club cycling hosting privileges yearly.

Honours

Pinks

Pinks are awarded for outstanding service to a sports club, usually with regard to representative honours, by the Central Athletic Club. Athletes in D.U.Fencing Club who have received pinks are listed below followed by the year of the award.
Name of recipientsDate Pinks awarded
J. M. StubbsFriday, November 21, 1952
M. A. H. McCauslandTuesday, November 10, 1953
Alistair Gordon TaylorMonday, May 17, 1954
John Howard EnglishFriday, November 15, 1957
Malcom Richard BoydFriday, June 19, 1959
Brian Michael Carew HamiltonFriday, November 11, 1960
Christopher Francis RyeSaturday, October 28, 1961
John James Michael Laud RobinsonFriday, November 15, 1963
Vernon Walter Fowler ArmstrongFriday, November 27, 1964
Penelope Mary Johnston GreeneMonday, November 29, 1965
Colm Murrough Vere O'BrienMonday, May 02, 1966
Paul NicholsonMonday, November 27, 1967
William Andrew Lambert HeatonWednesday, January 28, 1970
Sean GillespieWednesday, May 10, 1972
Richard George BoothFriday, May 14, 1976
Nial Charles FergusonThursday, May 08, 1980
Marcus Joseph AustinMonday, November 24, 1980
Catherine Patricia RidgeWednesday, May 04, 1983
Richard John MitchellThursday, May 03, 1984
Mark DavisThursday, December 06, 1984
Richard John MulkeenThursday, May 05, 1988
Síle O'ConnorTuesday, December 04, 1990
Paul John Thomas Bouchier-HayesWednesday, May 06, 1998
Kate HarveyThursday, April 27, 2006
David DelanyCahillThursday, February 28, 2008
Colm FlynnThursday, February 28, 2008
Kate HarveyThursday, February 28, 2008
Lachlan SykesThursday, April 17, 2008
Louis ArronWednesday, February 17, 2010
Maria TreacyWednesday, February 17, 2010
Hannah Lowry-O'ReillyFriday, March 11, 2011
Maxton MilnerThursday, March 19, 2015
Phillip CripwellTuesday, December 06, 2016
Lucy JohnsonTuesday, December 06, 2016
Camille Boelt HindsgaulMonday 26 March 2018
Tadhg GartonMonday 26 March 2018
Sam MitchellWednesday 1 May 2019
Ross ByrneWednesday 1 May 2019