Irish Cycling Medal identification

Cyclingtourist

Looking for information on this vintage Irish cycling silver medal.



It's got a Dublin hallmark for 1937 but the back doesn't have any engraving to show who it was awarded to.

The enamelled lettering reads "Cumann Rotaideacta na h-eireann" in old style Irish script.

Would appreciate any information from some Irish cycling historian.

Eamonnator

This looks to be a C.R.E. medal.
But C.R.E. wasn't formed until 1947.
There's a bit about the formation of C.R.E. in this article.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/page/about/history-of-cycling-ireland

Cyclingtourist

Eamonnator wrote: »

This looks to be a C.R.E. medal.
But C.R.E. wasn't formed until 1947.
There's a bit about the formation of C.R.E. in this article.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/page/about/history-of-cycling-ireland

Yes I agree, it's a CRE medal.

Looks like it was hallmarked in 1937 but sometime after 1947 they relief engraved the surround and filled with blue enamel.

Thanks for the info and link.

Teachmor

Before the 1935 season got under way the UCI ruled that the all-Ireland National Athletics and Cycling Association should confine their activities to the Irish Free State. The N A C A, at its annual Congress in the month of February, rejected the ruling and this rejection eventually led to the formation of the C R E which conformed to the UCI decision and operated in the Free State (later the Republic).

In 1938 the National Cycling Association took over the organisation of cycling throughout the island from the NACA and the CRE merged with it. This situation continued during the war years but when the dust settled the UCI produced the big stick to the NCA and a new CRE was formed to comply with its ruling while the NCA continued to prosper as a non-international body.

It is interesting that JJ Sweeney who was one of the founders of the first CRE took no part in the second and remained in the NCA until his death.

Cyclingtourist

Teachmor wrote: »

Before the 1935 season got under way the UCI ruled that the all-Ireland National Athletics and Cycling Association should confine their activities to the Irish Free State. The N A C A, at its annual Congress in the month of February, rejected the ruling and this rejection eventually led to the formation of the C R E which conformed to the UCI decision and operated in the Free State (later the Republic).

In 1938 the National Cycling Association took over the organisation of cycling throughout the island from the NACA and the CRE merged with it. This situation continued during the war years but when the dust settled the UCI produced the big stick to the NCA and a new CRE was formed to comply with its ruling while the NCA continued to prosper as a non-international body.

It is interesting that JJ Sweeney who was one of the founders of the first CRE took no part in the second and remained in the NCA until his death.

So there was an earlier CRÉ from 1938. I was beginning to think my medal had been lying round in some safe for at least ten years before they added the surround enamelled logo. Looks from what you posted it was in fact originally like this and probably won by some guy in the late 30s or early 40s. Pity he didn't go to a jewellers and have it inscribed.