The Bugle

The Bugle being played by the 22/23 Hiking VC

The Bugle is a famous piece of club apparatus, rediscovered and popularised by the Club in 2022. It was brought on many hikes, including the Buncranna '22 Club Trip, and is identifiable by the Mountaineering Club sticker near the horn end, and a leather strap handle. It has been experimentally verified to be capable of producing 3 distinct notes, though some theorise it is capable of more.

Since 2019 it has been used to delcare the start of the annual Maamturks Challenge at the base of Corcóg.

History

The Bugle was purchased in a second-hand shop by Fionn Delahunty and was the Rover Bugle. It's life before the second-hand shop is lost to time. The bugle made occasional appearances in the years that followed. Chael O'Brien is documented for bringing the Bugle on the Club's weekly hikes, he also started the 2019 Maamturks Challenge with it.

During this time, Chael lost the mouth section of the Bugle and was forced to replace it.

In 2022, Jack Reidy came into possession of the bugle and it became the Mountaineering Club Bugle. It came on all the hikes and its call could be heard across the mountains and valleys of Connemara and the Kingfisher. During this time the current members of the Club were unaware of the Rover legacy of the bugle and thought it was the Mountaineering Club Bugle.

Controversy

The Bugle was brought to the 2022/23 Semester 1 Club Trip to Buncranna in Donegal. During a particularly wet hike, the Mountaineering Club sticker on the bugle peeled away to reveal a Rover Soc sticker below. This created quite a stir, causing Rover Soc to claim the bugle as theirs and the Mountaineering Cub insisted it belonged to the Club.

During the first 2023 Maamturks Challenge Planning meeting in November 2022, Aodhán asked Fionn about the history of the Bugle. He revealed that it was originally the Rover Soc Bugle.

Legacy

In 2016, Rover Soc purchased a Kudu Horn, which was traditionally used by scouts. It was purchased with some difficulty considering it's illegal in Europe as the antelope is endangered. It was purchased in the middle east and shipped to Ireland, with some surprise and questions when it arrived at the Soc Box. A hole was drilled in it so it could produce sound, but only one club member (James O'Connell) was ever able to use it (this was after practising for two hours in the backseat of Fionn's car). The horn was stolen the following year from Rover Soc's gear shed. It was never recovered, but the primary suspect is the Computer Society, as the only other people with access to the building. Should you ever find a Kudu horn at a house party, you'll know it's Rover Soc's.

In January 2023, Rover Soc purchased a cow horn from a far-right French scout shop under the guise of buying neckers. While this horn looks very cool and is easier to play, it is only capable of one note.

In February 2023, Jack Reidy acquired a new bugle from his Grandfather's house which is supposedly even more difficult to play than the original

The Great Thefts of 2025

The Glendalough Heist

During the Semester 2 Club Trip of 2024/25, the club collaborated with University of Limerick Outdoor Pursuits Club to share the hostel, in an effort to reduce to cost of the semesterly trip. On the Monday morning 17th of March, among the scenic backdrop of the Glendalough round tower and rolling hills, as one of the last UL cars departed the International Youth Hostel carpark, a window rolled down and out stuck the head of a filthy UL student brandishing the beloved bugle in his hand, before driving away with it. Their "president" had orchestrated this unforgivable act as revenge for the UGMC's legal team completely justified press-ganging of him in the hostel's 'office' on Friday night to secure outstanding hostel payment from them. The theft of the bugle caused national mourning in the club, and no one could enjoy the glorious Newbridge St. Patricks Day parade on the way home to Galway. In response to this travesty, the Bliss administration severed diplomatic ties with ULOPC and recalled all ambassadors, swearing revenge.

Meanwhile Rory McGowan, who was the only club member to witness the event, immediately contacted the [redacted], who established an elite task force, Strike Team Reidy (STR), based in the club's mobile command centre (front seats of the Reaney's bus).

Strike Team Reidy had one serious advantage - an operative behind enemy lines. Little was UL aware that Spymaster & Trips Officer Rory McGowan was stationed in Limerick as a sleeper agent (i.e. on placement). After weeks of intel gathering and planning, on the 26th of March 2025 at 19.45h, Rory bravely infiltrated the den of snakes itself, UL Sport Climbing Wall. The bugle was secured in STR possession after an hour long mission.

Following this a massive logistical operation was activated to return the Bugle to G-Town in time for the 2025 Maamturks Challenge, so that it may have been blown to open the event at 5am. Thankfully it was delivered to club officials on Friday night, 11th of April, only 7 hours before the challenge start. The STR was then disbanded, with Mr. McGowan receiving Club Honours for Outstanding Service.

The Hostel Confiscation

The morning after the 2025 Maamturks Challenge it was confiscated by the hostel owners owing to it being blown for a large portion of the night, disturbing sleep. STR was quickly reformed and Spymaster McGowan jumped into action once again, retrieving it from the unhappy owners. After once again securing the bugle it was placed in the Sports Unit Van, to be escorted under convoy to the Wall. He received a second set of Club Honours for Outstanding Service. Strike Team Reidy is now no longer in operation, but remains in waiting, should it ever be needed again.