The Trinity College harp

1789
Brittannia

1808 Rees

1840
Bunting

illustration: JRSAI XXI, 1890-1, p.282

This silvered bronze badge shows the arms and supporters of the O’Neill family. It used to be fixed to the Trinity College harp. The badge was attached by nails to the upper fish head on the forepillar.

The engraved plate in Brittannia of 1789 shows the badge in close-up as well as illustrating the harp. The badge is also shown in situ, in the 1808 Rees Cyclopedia print, and in Bunting’s 1840 Ancient Music of Ireland.

The badge was acquired by the antiquarian Robert Day, reputedly found in excavations in Dublin in the mid 19th century. He published it twice, the first time (JRSAI XIV, 1876-7, p.494-8) not realising its identity, and the second (JRSAI XXI, 1890-1, p.282-3) explaining what it was, how it fitted the space on the harp exactly, and how he had presented it to Trinity College in about 1890, with the intent that it be re-affixed to the harp.

I do not know where the badge is now - it is not on the harp. Thanks to Keith Sanger for drawing my attention to this badge.

Simon Chadwick