Knitting Society Takes Top Prize at Annual Awards Ceremony

Mar 11, 2011

The Trinity College knitting society, Knitsoc, won Best Overall Society at this year’s CSC (Central Societies Committee) Society of the Year Awards which took place recently in TCD.  The aim of the CSC awards is to honour those students who have invested time and effort into fulfilling the aims of their societies, providing a service to their members while adding significantly to the Trinity experience.

Having just completed its first year of provisional recognition, Knitsoc signed up over 400 new members during Freshers’ Week heralding a revival of the craft of knitting.  The society holds weekly meetings where members gather to knit, teach newcomers and talk about College life.  A Skills Workshop is also held on a regular basis to bring members beyond basic knitting by teaching skills such as how to read a knitting pattern, cabling, Fairisle colour work, knitting in the round and crocheting.  Throughout its first year Knitsoc also reached out into the community by engaging in a number of volunteering activities such as hosting a knitting workshop for students from the National Institute for Intellectual Disability and knitting hats for an Age Action Ireland project.  Students awarded Knitsoc the Best Overall Society award for the contribution it has made to both College life and the practical work it has done for charities. 

Bella Fitzpatrick (right) and Hannah Cagney (centre) from the Knitting Society with a representative from AIB who sponsor the event.

Other winners on the night included the St Vincent de Paul Society which won the Best Large Society award, the Dublin University Players and the Philosophical Society who won the Best Event award for the Oscar Wilde Festival, and the Historical Society who won the Best Publication award for HistOracle. 

Knitsoc will join the Orchestral, Choral and Cards Society amongst others, to represent Trinity College at the Board of Irish College Societies National Awards which will take place during April 2011, where they will compete with other Irish college societies for the award of Best Society. 

The CSC is the College body that regulates student societies, granting recognition and funding as well as overseeing activity.  Formally established in 1969, the CSC is now responsible for over 100 societies across College.

Society of the Year Award Winners:

• Best Small Society – FLAC
• Best Medium Society – Orchestral
• Best Large Society – VdP
• Best New/Improved Society - Cards & Bridge
• Best Event – The Oscar Wilde Festival (Phil & Players)
• Best Fresher – Joel McKeever (Literary & Players)
• Best Individual – Declan Meehan (Phil)
• Best Website – Choral Society
• Best Poster – Lawsoc – Swing Ball
• Best Publication – HistOracle (Hist)
• Best Overall Society – the Knitting Society