List of Trinity College, Dublin student organisations

Clubs

Trinity College has 49 sports clubs affiliated to the Dublin University Central Athletic Club. There is a very strong sporting tradition at Trinity; however, in recent years sporting prowess has diminished somewhat with most students engaging in sport for recreational purposes rather than for competitive reasons.

The Central Athletic Club is made up of five democratically elected committees who oversee the development of sport in the college: the Executive Committee is responsible for all activities; the Captains' Committee represents the 49 club captains and awards University Colours (Pinks), the Pavilion Bar Committee runs the private members' bar, the Pavilion Members' Committee and the Sports Facilities Committee.

The oldest clubs include the Dublin University Cricket Club (1835) and Dublin University Boat Club (1836). Dublin University Football Club which plays rugby football was founded in 1854 and is the world's oldest documented "football club". The Dublin University Hockey Club was founded in 1893. The Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club was founded in 1885.

There are several graduate sport clubs that exist separate to the Central Athletic Club including the Dublin University Museum Players (cricket), the Lady Elizabeth Boat Club (rowing) and the Mary Lyons Memorial Mallets (croquet).

Publications

Trinity College, Dublin has a very strong tradition of student publications, ranging from the serious to the satirical. All student publications are administered by the Dublin University Publications Committee (often known as 'Pubs') who maintain and administer the Publications room (located in House 6) and all the associated equipment needed to publish its newspapers and magazines.

Trinity News is Ireland's oldest student newspaper having been first printed in 1947 and being in regular circulation since 1953. It is currently published on a fortnightly basis producing 12 issues in total during the academic year. The focus is on students with sections including College News, National News, International News, Features, Film, Music, Food and Drink, Science, Sports Features and College Sports (amongst others). The paper has been very successful in the Irish Student Media Awards in the past, winning each of the "Newspaper of the Year", "Editor of the Year" and "Journalist of the Year" numerous times in recent years. Currently the position of Editor of Trinity News is a sabbatical one which is widely believed to be a major factor in the newspaper's recent success.

The University Times is Trinity's newer student newspaper: founded in 2009, it was named Irish Student Newspaper of the Year in its first year, an award won by Trinity News in the three previous years. It is funded by Trinity College Dublin Students' Union but its Editorial Committee makes editorial decisions independently of the Union. It replaced the University Record.

Student magazines currently in publication include The Piranha ("Private Eye"/"The Onion" type satire), Tuathal (Irish-language magazine produced by An Cumann Gaelach which has been nominated for Irish Society Publication of the Year ) the generalist TCD Miscellany (one of Ireland's oldest magazines), the arts-orientated Icarus (magazine) and the recently launched film magazine Trinity Film Review. Other publications supported by the Dublin University Publications Committee include the Student Economic Review, which is a journal produced and organised by students of Economics, the Law Review and the Trinity Student Medical Journal as well as The Attic which is a collection of student writing produced by the Dublin University Literary Society, and The (Renegade) Rant and Rave, a literary criticism magazine. Some older titles currently not in publication include Central Review, Trinity Intellectual Times, The Afro-Caribbean Journal, Harlot, Evoke, and Alternate.

Societies

Graduates Memorial Building (left) and Campanile(right)

Trinity College has a vibrant student life with 124 societies (in 2011). Student societies operate under the aegis of the Dublin University Central Societies Committee which is composed of the Treasurers of each of the Societies within the College. Society size varies enormously, and it is often hard to determine exact figures for most societies - several claiming to be the largest in the college with thousands of members, while smaller groups may have only 40-50 members.

Situated within the Graduates Memorial Building is the oldest of Ireland's such societies, the University Philosophical Society (The Phil). Founded in 1683, the society has strong history in debating and paper-reading. Consequently over the past five centuries it has been addressed by the world’s pre-eminent thinkers and orators. The society meets each Thursday evening to debate motions of interest in the chamber of the Graduate Memorial Building. It counts among its Honorary Patrons multiple Noble Prize lauretes, Heads of State, notable actors, entertainers, well-known intellectuals, such as Al Pacino, Desmond Tutu, Sir Christopher Lee, Stephen Fry, and John Mearsheimer.

Another such society is the College Historical Society which shares the GMB, traces it foundation to 1770, meets each Wednesday evening of Term to debate motions in the chamber of the Graduate Memorial Building, has been addressed by many great orators including Winston Churchill and Ted Kenendy, and counts amongst its former members many of the most prominent men and women in Ireland's history.

Other societies include Vincent de Paul Society (VDP), which organises a large number of charitable activities in the local community; DU Players, one of the most prolific student-drama societies in Europe which hosts more than 50 shows and events a year in the Samuel Beckett Theatre; The DU Film Society (Formerly DU Filmmakers, formerly the DU "Videographic Society", founded in 1987) which organises filmmakers and film-lovers on campus through workshops, screenings, production funding, etc.; The DU Radio Society, known as Trinity FM, broadcasts a variety of student made productions on a special events licence on FM frequency 97.3FM for six weeks a year; The Trinity LGBT society, which is the oldest LGBT society in Ireland and celebrated its 25th anniversary in the 2007/2008 year; The Dublin University Comedy Society, known as DU Comedy, hosts comedy events for its members and has hosted gigs on campus from comedians such as Andrew Maxwell, David O'Doherty, Neil Delamere and Colin Murphy; The Dance Society, known as dudance, provides classes in Latin and ballroom dancing, as well as running events around other dance styles such as swing dancing.[1] In 2011 the Laurentian Society was revived. This society played a key role as a society for the few Catholic students who studied at Trinity while "the Ban" was still in force[2]

The Students' Union

The Students' Union's primary role is to provide a recognised representative channel between undergraduates and the University and College authorities. It represents both undergraduates and postgraduates in matters external to the university. The Executive, the Finance and Services Committee and Sabbatical Officers manage the business and affairs of the Union. The Sabbatical Officers are: The President, Communications Officer, Welfare Officer, Education Officer and Entertainments Officer and are elected on an annual basis; all capitated students are entitled to vote. The SU President, Welfare Officer and Education Officer are ex officio members of the College Board.

The Students' Union Communications Officer is responsible for the publication of the University Times (formerly the University Record), an editorially independent student newspaper, which is published every two weeks during term by the Students' Union. Though traditionally, the University Times has been seen to be the voice of the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union, it has strived to remain as separate from the Union as possible. Many of the contributors are drawn from the ranks of class reps, though it is neither censored by TCDSU, nor do the Student's Union dictate its content.

The Graduate Students' Union

The Graduate Students' Union's primary role is to provide a recognised representative channel between postgraduates and the University and College authorities. It primarily consists of two full-time officers, the President, and Vice-President. The GSU President is an ex officio member of the College Board. The Vice-President also acts as the GSU's Education and Welfare Officer. The Graduate Students' Union publish the "Journal of Postgraduate Research" on an annual basis.

List of Societies

Trinity Literary Society / LitSoc

The Trinity College Dublin Literary Society, or LitSoc, is the foremost society for the creation and celebration of literature in Trinity College Dublin, with a constitutional aim "to kindle and encourage a love of writing, literature and literary culture among the staff and students of Trinity College."[3] Initially begun as a branch of the English Speaking Union, the society was revived in 1996 and changed its name to the Trinity Literary Society in 1998. LitSoc holds an average of two major events every week, in addition to regular writing workshops, book clubs, open mics and guest speakers, and is open for library hours daily from 12 to 3pm.[4] The society was nominated for 6 awards at the CSC Society of the Year Awards Ceremony in March 2017, winning Best Online Presence, Best Medium Society and Overall Society of the Year.[5]

Mathsoc

Dublin University Mathematical Society, affectionately referred to as the Mathsoc by its members, was founded in 1923 and has had many famous members since its foundation, including Ireland's only Nobel Physics Laureate Ernest Walton who helped found it. The Mathsoc has a society room in college, in the School of Mathematics, which contains the Mathsoc library.

LGBT Society / Q Soc

Trinity LGBT, recently rebranded as Q Soc, is a society which supports the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their friends in Trinity College Dublin. The LGBT organises social and community events while offering help and support for LGBT students and providing a safe space for LGBT students on campus. Trinity College recognised the society in 1982 making it the oldest student LGBT society in Ireland. Trinity LGBT was founded in 1982 as "Dublin University Gay Soc", emerging directly from the Sexual Liberation Movement of David Norris and other Irish gay rights pioneers who were active in Trinity in the early 1970s.[6][7]

Traditional Music Society

DU Traditional Music Society (TradSoc) promotes traditional Irish music, song and dance in the College. The society hosts regular informal music sessions and recitals, runs a Céilí Band and a Lilting Choir, as well as organizing trips to traditional music festivals in Ireland and the UK. The Society has received the awards of Most Improved Society (2015) and Best Small Society (2016) from the Central Societies Committee in recent years.

Wolfe Tone Cumann / Fianna Fáil Society

Trinity College Fianna Fáil cumann (branch) is named in honour of Theobald Wolfe Tone. The Cumann was officially constituted in 1967 and was initially named in honour of Robert Erskine Childers, but was renamed in 1998 in celebration of the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion. It hosts regular meetings and participates in campaigns in support of Fianna Fáil and Ógra Fianna Fáil. Notable former members of the Cumann who have since entered national politics in Ireland include Thomas Byrne, Seán Haughey, Jack Chambers, James Lawless, Averil Power, Mary Lou McDonald, Mary Harney and Dara Calleary.

Trinity FM

Trinity FM, originally created in 1998, is run by 10 full-time volunteers. It broadcasts everyday from 3pm to midnight during college term at 92.1 FM and online through the website trinityfm.org There are shows each hour that are all presented by Trinity students. Trinity FM also has an open mic week from 9am through to midnight Monday to Friday. This allows for extra shows to allow people who didn't get a regular show that month to have a show, and also to give new people a chance to try their hand at broadcasting. Trinity FM has collaborated with UNICEF and has organised acoustic sessions which take place throughout the year. Acts such as Miracle Bell, Frightened Rabbit, The Flaws and Mice Parade and Duke Special have performed. The radio station organises covered gigs with talented youth from various colleges in Dublin playing their favourite covers. The station has made connections with the European Parliament in Brussels. Several times a year different committee members and general members of the society get the opportunity to travel to the EU parliament to discuss the future of radio, politics, and how students can make a difference at special events hosted by the EU. In 2013 Trinity FM was awarded best medium society and best overall society at the Central Societies Committee annual ball.

Comedy Society

The Dublin University Comedy Society (Comedy Soc.) hosts comedy events for its members and has hosted gigs on campus from comedians such as Andrew Maxwell, David O'Doherty, Neil Delamere and Colin Murphy. The society has existed in one form or another for many years, going under the name "The Dead Parrot Society" in the 1990s but experienced a massive resurgence in activity in 2007. The society signed up over 700 members in 2007, and over 2500 members in 2008 making them one of the largest student societies in Trinity that year.[8] The society publishes a comedy magazine called Goldfish, runs stand-up comedy workshops, and a variety of themed nights out.

Choral Society

The University of Dublin Choral Society is the largest choir in Trinity College Dublin. It is also the oldest choral society among the universities of Great Britain and Ireland having been founded in 1837. The society performs two concerts each year, one at the end of each term. The tradition that members wear the formal academic gown for performances is upheld and concerts take place in the College Exam Hall and College Chapel.

An Cumann Gaelach

An Cumann Gaelach, founded in 1907 by former President of Ireland Dubhghlas de hÍde.

Biological Association

The Biosoc is one of the largest societies in Trinity College Dublin. The main role of the Biosoc was originally to provide a forum of discussion in the field of Natural Science, however, over the years it began to change this role eventually becoming a social society for medical students. In this regard it has become well known, particularly in the running of the "Med Day" charity event every November, raising money for various university associated hospitals, including neonatal care in the Coombe and Rotunda, acute stroke care in St James's Hospital and breast cancer screening programme in AMNCH. This event has seen support from well known personalities, including rugby players Paul O'Connell and Jamie Heaslip. Other events run through the year include the Medical Ball, "The Great Medical Debate" and a pantomime, which makes fun of the various professors and consultants encountered in the medical school.

Dublin University Players

Dublin University Players which is one of the most prolific drama societies in Ireland, hosting up to 50 shows and events a year in its own theatre in the Samuel Beckett Centre. Famous ex-members of Players include the actress and writer Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle from Father Ted), as well as Sir Ian Laurence Byrne esq, Shane O'Reilly of 'Cinderella at the Gaiety' fame, Lord Patrick McKeating and, more recently, his brother Sir Dónal McKeating.

Joly Geological Society

Named after John Joly, the Joly Geological Society was founded in 1960.[9][10] As well as social events the society organises field trips.[11]

Laurentian Society

The Laurentian Society is a society named after Saint Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail in gaelic), and concerned with relevant issues from a Catholic perspective. It existed with no interruptions between the academic years 1952-3 and 2001-2,[12] being then the Catholic society of Trinity College. Back then, the society used to hold talks and was engaged in Charitable activities. It was revived as a cultural society in September 2011.

Society For International Affairs (SoFIA)

The Society for International Affairs (SoFIA) aims to promote the discussion of diplomacy and diplomatic affairs, to give visibility to current international affairs and provide a platform for discussion and networking. It also seeks to acquaint students with the activities and mechanisms of embassies and foreign affairs departments and, guide students considering a diplomatic career.[13]

Defunct societies

References

  1. ↑ "Trinitysocieties.ie". Trinitysocieties.ie. 2010-03-25. Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  2. ↑ "Trinity News, Trinity Archive, 1 Nov. 2005, p. 20" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  3. ↑ Constitution of the Trinity Literary Society. Trinity College Dublin: Trinity Literary Society.
  4. ↑ McGarry, Shona (2013). "Speakeasies and Duvet Fights: Welcome to the Trinity Literary Society". University Times.
  5. ↑ Meaghar, Grace (2017). "At Annual CSC Awards, Trinity Literary Society Takes Home Best Overall Society". University Times. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  6. ↑ The History of The Society - www.trinitylgbt.com
  7. ↑ "Twenty-five years of Trinity LGBT - Trinity News".
  8. ↑ http://www.trinitynews.ie/index.php/news/societies/204-funny-business-at-du-comedy-soc
  9. ↑ "Joly Geological Society - About".
  10. ↑ Jackson, Patrick Wyse (17 August 2006). "The Chronologers' Quest: The Search for the Age of the Earth". Cambridge University Press – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ "Joly Geological Society - Fieldtrips".
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 The Dublin University Calendar 2001-2001, p. V11
  13. ↑ "Society for International Affairs/ SoFIA".
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