This document discusses the old Irish game of rings and efforts to revive it through educational programs. Rings was commonly played in Irish households until the mid-20th century and involves tossing rubber rings at a wooden board mounted with hooks. The game is being promoted for schools in Northern Ireland to develop students' numeracy and investigative skills. At St. Colman's primary school, ringboards were constructed by local tradesmen working with students, and competitions have been held among three generations and between local schools.

2. Rings: An Old Irish Game Getting a New
Lease on Life thanks to ERASMUS+
• Back in the 1930s, 40s, 50s and ’60s,
rings was a common game in many
rural Irish households.
• Rings is simply a wooden board with
13 hooks mounted on the wall, at
which you toss six rubber rings – like a
much safer game of Darts!
• Play today in Ireland is regional, but it
is growing annually and there are
small and dedicated groups of
“ringers” who frequent
pubs/community halls to play.

3. Ringboards For Schools
• Northern Ireland Curriculum wants
children to develop their numeracy
skills through real-life experiences
and through investigative play.‘The game of rings should be
considered for all schools
throughout the world as a brilliant
teaching aid.’
-The World Ringboard Academy.
Ringboards are excellent tools for…
- Developing organisational skills
The class could be allowed to organize
and run its own tournaments. (Inter-
Generational Day)
-Practicing mental arithmetic
The rules of ringboard necessitate
quick mental arithmetic and hand to
eye co-ordination, while promoting
safe fun.

4. The St. Colman’s P.S., Annaclone Story
• The idea of Irish
Ringboards came from
this country and this
man…
• Kevin O’Neill had never
heard of it!
• We soon put him right!

5. Construction
• Wealth of local skilled
tradesmen in the local
area of Annaclone.
• Key to upskill our children
and discuss the craft.
• 12 boards cut with a jig-
saw using the
manufactured game as
the template.
• Sheet of MDF used

6. • Short Video Clip of The
Construction Process.
• Big thank-you to Richard
Hamilton (expert!)
New Skills
- Varnishing
- Drilling
- Sanding
- Hooking
- Templating

7. Childrens’ Competition – April 29 2016

8. Ringboards will be played by
Three Generations on June 9 and
by local Primary Schools at our
Sports’ Day and ERASMUS+
Intergenerational Day.

9. European Championships
Irish Ringboard