List of Trinity College Dublin student organisations

This is a list of Trinity College Dublin student organisations. As of 2020, Trinity College Dublin had over 120 student societies which were operating under the Dublin University Central Societies Committee.^[1]

Types of organisations

Clubs

Trinity College has 49 sports clubs affiliated to the Dublin University Central Athletic Club. The Central Athletic Club is made up of five 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.^{[citation needed]}

The oldest clubs include the Dublin University Cricket Club (1835) and Dublin University Boat Club (1836). Dublin University Rifle Club was first founded in 1840 however the club under its current format was reconstituted in 1962. Dublin University Football Club which plays rugby football was founded in 1854 and is one of 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.^[2]

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).^{[citation needed]}

Publications

Trinity College's 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).^{[citation needed]}

Trinity News is Ireland's oldest student newspaper having been first printed in 1947 and being in regular circulation since 1953. It is published on a fortnightly basis producing 12 issues in total during the academic year. The paper has won a number of Irish Student Media Awards in the past, including the "Newspaper of the Year", "Editor of the Year" and "Journalist of the Year".^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Student magazines in publication include The Piranha (satirical), 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 film magazine Trinity Film Review.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

Societies

Graduates Memorial Building (left) and Campanile(right)

Trinity College has over 120 societies, each of which operates under the aegis of the Dublin University Central Societies Committee. This committee is composed of the treasurers of each of the societies within the College. Society sizes vary, with several claiming to be the largest in the college with thousands of members, while smaller groups may have only 40-50 members.^{[citation needed]}

Situated within the Graduates Memorial Building is the oldest of Ireland's such societies, the College Historical Society (The Hist). Founded in 1770,^[3] the society has a history in the promotion of oratory and composition. It is the oldest debating society in Ireland, and "perhaps" the oldest student society in the world.^[4][5][6] Over the past three centuries, it has been addressed by the world’s pre-eminent thinkers and orators.^[7] The society meets each Wednesday evening to debate motions of interest in the chamber of the Graduate Memorial Building (GMB).^[8]

Another such society is the University Philosophical Society (The Phil) which shares the GMB and promotes discourse among students. The Society can traces it origins to 1853 when it was set up as a paper reading society, inspired by the Dublin Philosophical Society.^[3] While the Phil still hosts paper readings, its primary functions is as a debating society. Throughout the twentieth century, there was ongoing discussion about the possibility of a merger between the Student Representative Council, the Hist, the Phil, and the Eliz (The Dublin University Elizabethan Society founded in 1905).^[9] In 1981, the Eliz merged with the Phil and today it remains a subcommittee of the Phil promoting the involvement of women in debating.^[3] The Phil meets each Thursday evening of Term to debate motions in the chamber of the GMB.^[10]

Other societies include DU Players, a student-drama society 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, and production funding; The DU Radio Society, known as Trinity FM, broadcasts 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 hosts comedy gigs on campus; The Dance Society, known as "dudance",^[11] which provides classes in Latin and ballroom dancing, as well as running events around other dance styles such as swing dancing.^[12] In 2011 the Laurentian Society was revived. This society played a role as a society for the few Catholic students who studied at Trinity while "the Ban" (on Catholic attendance) was still in force^[13]

Representative bodies

Main article: Trinity College Dublin Students' Union

Undergraduates are represented by the Trinity College Dublin Students' Union (TCDSU). Its primary role is to provide a 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 Students' Union Communications Officer is responsible for the publication of the University Times (formerly the University Record), an editorially independent student newspaper.^{[citation needed]}

Postgraduates are represented by the Graduate Students' Union. Its 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.^{[citation needed]}

List of societies

An Cumann Gaelach

Main article: An Cumann Gaelach, TCD

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.^{[citation needed]} 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. It runs the "Med Day" charity event every November,^[14] raising money for various university associated hospitals, including neonatal care in the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital and Rotunda Hospital, acute stroke care in St. James's Hospital and breast cancer screening programme in Tallaght University Hospital.^{[citation needed]}

Charities

A number of charitable societies also operate at Trinity.^{[citation needed]} These include Trinity VDP, Trinity Cancer Society (known for their annual "naked calendar"),^{[citation needed]} STAND (formerly Suas), Trinity Free Legal Aid Centre (FLAC) and DU Amnesty.^{[citation needed]}

Choral Society

The University of Dublin Choral Society is the largest choir in Trinity College Dublin.^[15] It is also the oldest university choral society in Great Britain and Ireland and the third oldest society in Trinity,^[16] having been founded in 1837.^[17][18][19] Traditionally, the society performed one concert for each of the three terms, with the third concert known as the Ladies' Concert, as women had been permitted to attend before their admission to Trinity.^[19] With the introduction of semesters, two concerts are now performed each year, one at the end of each semester. 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.^[19] The Library of Trinity College Dublin holds a collection of music performed by the society during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries as well as programmes dating back to the society's founding.^[20]

College Historical Society

Main article: College Historical Society

The College Historical Society (or "Hist") is Ireland's oldest debating society, having been established within the college in 1770.^[3][4]

College Theological Society

The College Theological Society, commonly known as "The Theo", was founded in 1830.^[21] The society's original purpose was to train ordinands "in ecclesiastical history and polemical divinity".^[22][23] According to its constitution, the objective of the society is to afford members the opportunity to study theology and to "encourage the practice of written composition, and extempore speaking".^[24] It also "promotes inter-religious dialogue" and discusses the role of religion within society.^[25] It has covered topics including human rights, current affairs, faith and the climate crisis.^[26]

In addition to discussion and debate, members also meet to listen to guest speakers during weekly Monday events in the Chamber of the Graduates Memorial Building.^[27][28] The Theo is based in the Bram Stoker Room in the same building.^[25]

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.^[29]

Dublin University Players

Dublin University Players hosts over 50 shows and events a year in its own theatre in the Samuel Beckett Centre.^{[citation needed]} Notable ex-members of the group include the actress and writer Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle from Father Ted), Stanley Townsend, Jack Gleeson, and Doireann Garrihy.^{[citation needed]} Honorary Patrons of the society include Garry Hynes, Bill Nighy, Paule Constable, Selina Cartmell and Michael D. Higgins.^{[citation needed]}

Joly Geological Society

Named after John Joly, the Joly Geological Society was founded in 1960.^[30][31] As well as social events the society organises field trips.^[32]

Laurentian Society

Main article: Laurentian Society

The Laurentian Society is a society named after Saint Laurence O'Toole and which is concerned with relevant issues from a Catholic perspective. It existed with no interruptions between the academic years 1952-3 and 2001-2,^[33] and held talks and was engaged in charitable activities.^{[citation needed]} It was revived as a cultural society in September 2011.^{[citation needed]}

LGBT Society / Q Soc

Trinity LGBT, later 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.^[34][35]

LitSoc / Trinity Literary Society

The Trinity College Dublin Literary Society (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".^[36] 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.^[37] The society was nominated for 6 awards at the Central Societies Committee awards ceremony in March 2017, winning Best Online Presence, Best Medium Society and Overall Society of the Year.^[38]

Mathsoc

Dublin University Mathematical Society, 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.^[39][40] It is affectionately referred to as the Mathsoc by its members.^[41] The Mathsoc has a society room in college, in the School of Mathematics, which contains the Mathsoc library.

Photographic Association (DUPA)

The Photography Association at Trinity was established in 1948.^[42] The Dublin University Photography Association (DUPA) offers educational activities, including workshops, classes and guest lectures.^{[citation needed]} The association also provides members access to photographic equipment and darkroom facilities, supporting digital and traditional film photography.^{[citation needed]} DUPA also holds photography exhibitions "multiple times each term".^[43] DUPA was awarded Best Medium Society and Best Overall Society at the 2015 Annual Central Societies Committee Society of the Year Awards.^[44]

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.^[45]

Traditional Music Society

DU Traditional Music Society (TradSoc) promotes traditional Irish music, song and dance in the college. The society hosts informal music sessions and recitals, runs a céilí band and a lilting choir, as well as organising trips to traditional music festivals in Ireland and the UK. The society received the awards of Most Improved Society (2015) and Best Small Society (2016) from the Central Societies Committee.^{[citation needed]}

Trinitones

Main article: Trinitones

Trinitones is an all-male acappella ensemble established in 2012 which is one of the four choirs which make up "Trinity College Singers Society", along with Trinity Singers, Boydell Singers and fellow acappella group, Trinity Belles.^[46] Established in 2012, the group have toured Ireland and Australia and have released several covers of popular songs, most notably a viral music video of an acappella arrangement of Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus in 2013.^[47]

Trinity Arts Festival Society

The Trinity Arts Festival Society coordinates a week-long arts festival within Trinity College Dublin.^[48][49] Established in 2006,^[50] the festival is organised by a society committee with a goal to "promote the arts and arts-based societies within Trinity College and around Dublin".^[51]

The festival society has received a number of awards from the Central Societies Committee of Trinity College at its annual Society of the Year Awards.^{[citation needed]} The society were also awarded second place in the college's "Equality Champions Awards" in April 2017.^[52]

Trinity FM

Trinity FM, originally created in 1998, is run by 10 full-time volunteers.^{[citation needed]} It broadcasts from 3pm to midnight during college term at 92.1 FM and online through the website trinityfm.org.^{[citation needed]} Trinity FM has collaborated with UNICEF and has organised acoustic sessions which take place throughout the year.^{[citation needed]} Acts such as Miracle Bell, Frightened Rabbit, The Flaws and Mice Parade and Duke Special have performed.^{[citation needed]}

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 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.^{[citation needed]}

University Philosophical Society

Main article: University Philosophical Society

The University Philosophical Society (or "Phil") is a paper-reading and debating society which was founded in 1853.^[3] It facilitates debating in Trinity through chamber debates and competitive debating, both internally and externally.

Defunct societies

• Astronomy and Space Society (Trinity)^[33]
• Karting Society^[33]
• One World Society^[33]
• Speech and Language Pathology Society^[33]
• Dublin University Real Estate Society (DURES)^[53]

References

1. "Central Societies Committee, TCD". trinitysocieties.ie. Retrieved 14 December 2020. over 120 societies from Afro-Caribbean to Zoology
2. "Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club". Archived from the original on 21 January 2007.
3. "The College Calendar: Students' Unions, Societies and Clubs" (PDF). Trinity College Dublin.
4. Geoghegan, Patrick. "'The Hist': 250 years of self-indulgent theatrics and transformative debate". The Irish Times.
5. "The Greatest of All Schools of Oratory: Highlights from the Hist Archive". The Library of Trinity College Dublin.
6. "The Irish Times view on 250 years of the Hist: the power of persuasion". The Irish Times.
7. Geoghegan, Patrick (2020). Trinity College Dublin: The College Historical Society Oratory and Debate 1770-2020. Lilliput Press.
8. "Chamber Debating". College Historical Society.
9. "Major Societies: Where Now?, Trinity News". Yumpu.
10. "Interview with the President of the Phil". Trinity Development & Alumni.
11. "dance.tcdlife.ie". Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
12. "Trinitysocieties.ie". Trinitysocieties.ie. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
13. "Trinity News, Trinity Archive, 1 Nov. 2005, p. 20" (PDF). Retrieved 24 July 2012.
14. "tcdmedday.com". Archived from the original on 21 December 2009.
15. "University of Dublin Choral Society". udcs.org. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
16. O'Reilly, Charlotte (13 December 2017). "Society Spotlight: Choral Society". University Times. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
17. Stephenson, Patrick J. (September 1942). "The Antient Concert Rooms". Dublin Historical Record. 5 (1): 1–14. JSTOR 30080044. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
18. Brian Boydell (1987). Under no circumstances, op. 85 (Choral Work). Dublin: Contemporary Music Centre. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
19. Fitz Gibbon, Gerald (1988). "'College Choral', 1837-1987". Hermathena (144): 35–68. JSTOR 23042010. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
20. "Named Collections: Early Printed Books and Special Collections". The Library of Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
21. "Revived Theological Society to have Christian-specific focus". trinitynews.ie. 2 October 2020.
22. Power, Thomas P. (26 July 2018). A Flight of Parsons: The Divinity Diaspora of Trinity College Dublin. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 26, 35. ISBN 978-1-5326-0910-7.
23. University (Dublin) (1892). The Book of Trinity College Dublin 1591-1891. Ward. pp. 106–107.
24. "Bylaws of Trinity College Theological Society" (PDF). Trinity Societies. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
25. "Trinity Theological Society". trinitytheologicalsociety.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013.
26. "Double, Double, Toil and Community". universitytimes.ie. 13 February 2018.
27. Khan, Zahra (5 December 2016). "TCD Theological Society – where are they now?". trinitynews.ie. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
28. "Theological Society (Theo)". trinitysocieties.ie. Trinity College Central Societies' Committee. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
29. "Funny business at DU Comedy Soc". Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
30. "Joly Geological Society - About".^{[permanent dead link‍]}
31. Jackson, Patrick Wyse (17 August 2006). The Chronologers' Quest: The Search for the Age of the Earth. Cambridge University Press. p. 216. Bibcode:2006cqsa.book.....J. ISBN 978-0-521-81332-7 – via Internet Archive. Joly Geological Society.
32. "Joly Geological Society - Fieldtrips".^{[permanent dead link‍]}
33. The Dublin University Calendar 2001-2001, p. V11
34. "The History of The Society". Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
35. "Twenty-five years of Trinity LGBT - Trinity News".^{[permanent dead link‍]}
36. Constitution of the Trinity Literary Society. Trinity College Dublin: Trinity Literary Society.
37. McGarry, Shona (2013). "Speakeasies and Duvet Fights: Welcome to the Trinity Literary Society". University Times.
38. Meaghar, Grace (2017). "At Annual CSC Awards, Trinity Literary Society Takes Home Best Overall Society". University Times. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
39. "The Trinity College Dublin Mathematical Society". MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive. MacTutor. February 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
40. Spearman, T. David (1992). "THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY Mathematical Society". Mathematics at TCD 1592-1992. School of Mathematics, Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
41. "The Constitution of the Dublin University Mathematical Society" (PDF). TCD Societies. 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
42. "Societies and other Institutions" (PDF). Trinity College Dublin. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
43. "Photography Association (DUPA)". trinitysocieties.ie. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
44. "Dublin University Photographic Society Wins Best Overall Society of 2014/15". Trinity College Dublin. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
45. "Society for International Affairs/ SoFIA". Archived from the original on 11 March 2016.
46. "trinitycollegesingers". trinitycollegesingers. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
47. Trinitones (17 February 2013), Teenage Dirtbag - Trinitones, archived from the original on 14 December 2021, retrieved 29 November 2017
48. "The Constitution of Trinity Arts Festival" (PDF). trinitysocieties.ie. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
49. "Trinity Arts Festival 2010.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
50. "Monster start for Trinity arts". OnTheTown. Irish Times. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
51. "List of Societies - Trinity Arts Festival Society". trinitysocieties.ie. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
52. "Five Societies Formally Recognised by College for Work in Equality". www.universitytimes.ie. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
53. Connolly, Shannon (26 October 2020). "DU Real Estate Society sends off for CSC approval". trinitynews.ie.

External links

• trinitysocieties.ie
• The Choral Society, Trinity College Dublin Collection