We are very proud of the wonderful delegation headed to Vietnam this week to representthe Hist at the 2024 World University Debating Championships!
Best of luck to Martha McKinney Perry, Molly Carroll, Tom Francis, Ziyad Anwer, Rehan Haneef, and all our other friends competing - we are rooting for you!!
From left to right: Provost Linda Doyle; Hist Auditor Áine Kennedy; Dame Jacinda Ardern; Ambassador Trevor Mallard
It was an honour for the 254th session of the College Historical Society to welcome Dame Jacinda Ardern to Trinity College on November 21st 2023 and to award her our Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse for her remarkable work in New Zealand and internationally.
Ardern was elected as Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017 and became the country’s youngest Prime Minister in over 150 years and the world’s youngest female head of state and later went on to become the first world leader to give birth while in office since 1990!
Ardern's domestic impact has been felt through both her with her progressive policies and her refreshing approach to public life, like when she was the first Prime Minister to appear in a Pride March.
Internationally, her legacy has been monumental for many reasons, notably the “Christchurch Call” initiative which focuses on addressing digital radicalisation and holding tech companies accountable for the role social media platforms can play in terrorism and violent extremism.
We are extremely grateful to Dame Jacinda for taking the time to visit Trinity College and engage in such an interesting interview and Q&A session. It was incredible to have the opportunity to chat to her and hear her insights on such a range of topics.
Special thanks to Ambassador Trevor Mallard, the team at the New Zealand Embassy, and the Provost’s Office for their support in organising this event!
Finally, thank you very much to our wonderful headline sponsor Arthur Cox for making events like this possible.
Jason McElligott’s lecture
We were thrilled to celebrate former Hist Auditor Bram Stoker by taking part in this year's Bram Stoker Festival this October bank holiday!
The Hist co-hosted two events with the wonderful team at the Bram Stoker Festival in our very own Graduates Memorial Building here in Trinity. We hosted a live Three Castles Burning podcast with special guests Brian J. Showers and Kathy Rose O’Brien, as well as lecture by Dr. Jason McElligott on Bram’s obsession with “Criminal Insanity”.
Dónal Fallon with the Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse
It was particularly special honoured to be able to recognise Dónal Fallon of Three Castles Burning by presenting him with a very well deserved Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse.
Thank you very much to the Bram Stoker Festival for letting us get involved and we're looking forward to continuing to build our new relationship at next year’s festival. Until then, happy halloween!
Thanks to Allen Kiely for the photos.
Kathy Rose O’Brien’s performance during the Three Castles Burning live podcast recording
Kate Henshaw kicking off the marathon debate attempt
27 hours and 58 minutes later, we have a new world record!
After debating for well over 24 hours straight, we have officially earned the title of Longest Marathon Debate from GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ and received our second plaque of the week. Eight speakers debated 26 motions in a row, one from each decade of our history. We were so excited to experience this journey through the Hist's past and into sleepless insanity and are absolutely thrilled it has been a success!
We are incredibly proud of Kate Henshaw, Mary Woods, Tom Francis, Anna Sawicka, Daniela Williams, Ziyad Anwer, Caoimhin Hamill, and Sébastien Dunne Fulmer for every single one of their 26 incredible speeches. A sleep has never been quite so well deserved!
Caoimhin Hamill giving the final speech of the entire marathon debate, opposing the motion “This House Believes There is a Future to Look Forward to”
Joanne Brent, the speakers, and organisers following the Guinness World Record being achieved
Guinness World Record Official Adjudicator Joanne Brent observing the record attempt (in addition to the impartial witnesses on shift)
We also would like to give our sincerest thanks to all our incredible judges, witnesses, and volunteers. It really meant a lot to all of us to see so many people come together to help make this possible and we are so grateful for every single person who helped make it happen! We have to give a special mention to Stephen Ryan, Ella O’Neill, and Nina Crofts, who made sure all the speakers were fed, well looked after, and awake the entire time.
Back row from left to right: Luke Fehily; Mary Woods; Anna Sawicka; Ziyad Anwer; Tom Francis; Kate Henshaw; Daniela Williams
Front row from left to right: Malika Maniar; Áine Kennedy; Sébastien Dunne Fulmer: Joanne Brent; Caoimhin Hamill; Provost Linda Doyle
We must say another big well done and thank you to Áine Kennedy and Malika Maniar who did a lot more than sit in the big chair and began organising this months ago and did all the behind the scenes work both before, after, and during to make the record a success.
Last but not least, thank you to everyone at Guinness World Records and Trinity College Dublin who supported us both in the organisation process and the record itself.
If you’d like to hear more about our debate marathon, check out some of the news coverage linked below for full details!
Any further media enquiries should be directed to auditor@thehist.com
Bo Seo giving the first respondent speech
More than ever before, student debate and action has been at the forefront of social and political change globally. From the Hong Kong Democracy Movement which grew out of the Hong Kong Federation for Students, to union elections being the primary outlet for political expression in occupied Palestine, university campuses continue to be an epicentre of historic events.
We explored the importance of student debate at today’s event with speeches from Taoiseach Leo Varadker, author and champion debater Bo Seo, TCDSU President László Molnárfi, and student speakers Maggie Larson, Malika Maniar, and Andy Cullinan.
You can watch the recording of this event on our YouTube linked below.
Left to right: TCDSU President László Molnárfi, champion debater and author Bo Seo, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Taking inspiration from former Hist President Thomas Davis's assertion in 1840 that debating societies and student organisation played a crucial role in “remedying the defects of a university education”, we convened with a panel of esteemed experts to discuss in an age of social change and technological advancements, what are the defects in University Education, and how can they be remedied.
Professor Stefan Collini addresses the House. Seated behind him from left to right: Ella O’Neill (Librarian of the Hist), Provost Linda Doyle, Carl O’Brien, Áine Kennedy (Auditor of the Hist)
With backgrounds ranging from political journalism to intellectual history and ground-breaking intersections of engineering with the arts, Carl O’Brien of the Irish Times, our very own Provost Linda Doyle, Cambridge’s Professor Stefan Collini, and student Ella O’Neill, delved into the evolving landscape of university education.
You can watch the recording of this event on our YouTube now.
Professor Marianne Elliott speaking about Wolfe Tone’s time in the Hist
As announced last month, the Hist has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest student society in the world! The media coverage following this announcement can be found here.
Today, Official Adjudicator from Guinness World Records, Joanne Brent, presented Áine Kennedy (Auditor of the 254th Session) and Luke Fehily (Honorary Member and Auditor of the 250th Session) with the Society’s official Guinness World Records certificate.
With a panel of distinguished historians and scholars Patrick Geoghegan, Roy Foster, Marianne Elliott, and recent graduate and former Officer of the Society, Stephen Ryan, we journeyed through the annals of the Society's storied past. This Extraordinary Private Business Meeting of the Society took a moment to reflect upon the pivotal role the Society has played in shaping debates, narratives, and leaders for centuries in Trinity College’s Senior Common Room, the very room its first meeting was held in March 1770.
Luke Fehily and Áine Kennedy accept Guinness World Record on behalf of the Hist from official adjudicator Joanne Brent
Tom Burns from Queen’s University Belfast proposes the motion to the House
While we have already had a great run of Wednesday night debates this semester with motions ranging from whether Trinity should be ashamed of its past to the shortcomings of journalism in 2023, tonight’s debate was particularly special as it marked the beginning of our Guinness World Record week celebrations by indulging in a long standing tradition here at the Hist!
After its inception, the Hist inspired the creation of debating unions in other universities, including Cambridge, Oxford and Durham, with reciprocal agreements to allow access for each others’ members. In 1920, the Society celebrated its 150th anniversary with a corresponding debate against the Edinburgh Speculative Society and the Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Unions. The 200th and 250th anniversary celebrations featured ‘inter-debates’ in a similar manner, with students from around the world.
Chair Bobby McDonagh and the speakers and president of each Society
To commemorate our Guinness World Record achievement, students from the Oxford Union, the Durham Union, the Edinburgh Union, the Literific of Queen’s University Belfast, the L&H of UCD, and of course, the Hist, came together to debate the motion “This House Would Break Up the United Kingdom”, with former Irish Ambassador to the UK, Bobby McDonagh, as guest Chair.
You can watch the recording of this debate on our Instagram and it will also be uploaded to our YouTube in the coming weeks.
The Hist were absolutely thrilled to come along to Kilkenomics at the RDS on Friday evening to hear Naomi Klein speak!
After a great interview by David McWilliams, we were honoured to have our Auditor Áine Kennedy present Klein with our Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse onstage at the event in recognition of her remarkable contributions to feminism, leftism, climate politics, academia, and public discourse.
Thank you very much to Kilkenomics and Penguin Random House Publishing for having us!
Auditor Áine Kennedy presenting Naomi Klein with the Gold Medal on behalf of the Society onstage
Naomi Klein reading an excerpt of her book, Doppleganger, at the event
Auditor Áine Kennedy awards Stella Assange the Gold Medal
Earlier today, humans rights lawyer and free speech advocate Stella Assange joined us in the GMB.
Stella Assange’s signature in the Society’s minute book
Stella Assange is best known for her central role in the Free Julian campaign which advocates for the release of her husband and the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange. She first met Julian in 2011 as a part of his legal team. Since then, she has campaigned extensively against his extradition and imprisonment and advocated for free speech and freedom of the press.
She accepted the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse on behalf of herself and her husband, Julian Assange.
Stella Assange addresses the Society
Lea Ypi, a Professor of Political Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science, has been named one of the world’s top ten most important thinkers and is renowned for her contribution to philosophy and political theory.
Free, her recent memoir, recounts her childhood in communist Albania and has won the Ondaatje Prize and been named a book of the year by numerous publications.
Professor Lea Ypi being presented with the Medal by Auditor Áine Kennedy
The Hist was delighted to present Professor Ypi with our Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions for Public Discourse yesterday.
Professor Ypi gave a fascinating address and Q&A for all our members, which can be viewed on our Instagram.
Thank you very much to our sponsor Arthur Cox for making this event possible!
Photograph: Nick Bradshaw (The Irish Times)
We had a packed GMB and eight wonderful speeches for our Freshers Week debate.
The Hist and LawSoc debated the merits of being a full blown Trinity stereotype (usually referred to as a Trinity w****r) this week!
If you missed it, check out the livestream on our Instagram, @tcdhist, or the Irish Times’ feature on the debate.
Come along to any of our debates on Wednesdays at 7:30pm! You can view our full Michaelmas term card here. Next week’s debate is ‘This House Would Vote Sinn Féin’, with guest speakers including Shane Ross and Gary Gannon.
Audrey Maglich (Pro-Ents 253) opposing the motion
Photograph: Nick Bradshaw (The Irish Times)
Joe Kennedy III is a politician and diplomat with a unique influence in both US and Irish politics, having been appointed as the United States’ Special Envoy to Northern Ireland by President Biden in December 2022. He has served in the Peace Corps and House of Representatives, as well as working for CNN. Throughout his legal and political career, he has advocated for a large number of civil rights and racial equality bills, marijuana legalisation, radical environmental reform, and more progressive healthcare.
Joe Kennedy III addressing the Society
Kennedy addressed the Society and its members in the GMB Chamber yesterday morning. The Auditor, Áine Kennedy, presented him with the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse on behalf of the Society.
Mr. Kennedy’s wonderful address can be viewed on our Instagram (@TCDHist), as well as the Q&A Session where he answered questions on topics like environmental advocacy, a united Ireland, and his family’s political dynasty.
Thank you very much to Mr. Kennedy for speaking to the Hist and thank you to his entire team in the State Department and the US Embassy in Dublin for all their assistance.
Thank you very much to Arthur Cox for sponsoring this event and our entire Gold Medal speaker series!
Special Envoy Joe Kennedy III with the Auditor, Áine Kennedy
Our debates begin at 7:30pm every Wednesday evening in the GMB Chamber, with a wine reception next door afterwards!
Please contact Mary Woods at corrsec@tcdhist.com if you have any questions about any of our chamber debates.
Naomi Panovka and Daniela Williams, European Finalists 2023
We are incredibly proud of the entire delegation who represented the Hist at the European University Debating Championships in Bulgaria last week.
Special congratulations to Daniela Williams and Naomi Panovka who reached the Grand Final, with Naomi finishing as the third best speaker overall!
Daniela and Naomi are the first team entirely comprised of women to reach the Grand Final from any Irish university in over ten years! The last Irish team to do so was also a Hist team, comprised of Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin and Catherine Murphy, in 2011.
The Hist has also held the record for most points ever scored at the European Championships for over a decade - a Hist team comprised of Sally Rooney and Michael Barton set this record in 2013 and another Hist team comprised of Jack Synnott and Caoimhin Hamill subsequently broke it in 2021.
We would like to congratulate all the other incredibly talented debaters who competed in a notably competitive Euros this year, particularly the other Irish teams! Special mention to our friends from UCD’s L&H who reached the Quarter Finals.
Stephen Ryan, Gold Medallist in History
Since 1770, the College Historical Society has recognised excellence by awarding Medals to students who demonstrate outstanding ability in History, Composition, and Oratory. Previous recipients include Bram Stoker, Douglas Hyde, Theobald Wolfe Tone, and Frederick Boland.
Click here to learn more the Medals of the Society.
Thank you very much to everyone who made a submission to the History and Composition competitions and to everyone who spoke in the debates of the Society
Megan O’Driscoll was awarded a Gold Medal in Composition for her poem entitled, Opportunity Cost. Read Megan’s submission here.
Stephen Ryan was awarded a Gold Medal in History for his essay entitled “To what extent did environmental concerns shape global responses to the United States of America’s 1954 Castle Bravo Hydrogen Bomb test?”. Read Stephen’s submission here.
Megan O’Driscoll, Gold Medallist in Composition
Áine Kennedy was awarded a Silver Medal in Oratory and the John Boland Memorial Prize for her speeches in the debates of the Society this session.
Thomas Francis and Daniel Byrne were both awarded the Marked Thanks of the Society for Oratory for their speeches to the debates of the Society this session.
Thank you very much to John and Ann Boland for their exceptional support for both the College Historical Society and Trinity College.
We wish to express our sincerest gratitude to them for their commitment to the cultivation of oratory and the encouragement of young people through projects like the John Boland Memorial Prize.
Áine Kennedy, Silver Medallist in Oratory
History and Composition submissions will re-open during the Michaelmas term and a panel of expert judges will nominate a Medallist in each category from those submissions.
Oratory returns are distributed at all our Wednesday night debates. Medals in Oratory will be awarded based on those oratory returns at the end of the year.
Last week’s AGM marked the end of the 253rd Session and the beginning of the 254th Session. Thank you to the entirety of the 253rd Committee for all their hard work, particularly to Auditor Sébastien Dunne Fulmer, and to all our wonderful ordinary members for such a great session!
Results from our recent election can be found here. Congrats to the newly elected Committee!
The 253rd Committee of the College Historical Society (2022-2023):
Back row: Malika Maniar (Pro-Lib, Mary Woods (Pro-DC), Niko Singbad (Pro-CorrSec), Anna Sawicka (Pro-DC), Constantine Iordanov (Pro-RecSec), Darragh Matthews (Pro-Ents), Tom Francis (Pro-DC), Áine Kennedy (Treas), Audrey Maglich (Pro-Ents), Smrutha Sivakumar (Pro-Lib)
Front row: Niall Dineen (SMC), Daniela Williams (DC), Kate Henshaw (CorrSec), Sébastien Dunne Fulmer (Auditor), Anna Kollár (Censor), Stephen Ryan (Equity)
Absent: Molly Carroll (RecSec), Jack Fitzpatrick (Pro-Treas), Laura Smith (Pro-CorrSec), Dylan Brady (Pro-RecSec), Ayla Lancaster (Pro-Censor), Rachel Chen (Pro-Censor)
From left to right: Áine Kennedy (Hist Treasurer), Ruth Brady (LawSoc Auditor), Sarah Grace
Sarah Grace is an Irish-based lawyer who acts as a spokesperson and activist against violence against women. She is also the author of Ash + Salt, a book which depicts her own experience as a survivor and her journey to fight for and empower not only herself but all survivors of sexual assault who have faced injustice at the hands of their attackers and the law.
The Hist teamed up with Trinity’s Law Society to run two events with Sarah last Monday.
Sarah led a yoga class, followed by a breakfast morning with goodies supplied by Deloitte Ireland, as a fundraiser for Dublin Rape Crisis Center. Then, LawSoc and the Hist hosted an address from Sarah in the GMB Chamber, where she was awarded the Hist’s Gold Medal and LawSoc’s Praeses Elit Award for her outstanding work.
We were thrilled to be able to recognise Sarah’s incredible activism and bravery, while also raising over €500 for DRCC.
Special thanks to Deloitte for their support on this event.
Colm O’Gorman addressed the Hist and DU Amnesty on March 28th in the GMB Chamber. He was presented with the Society’s Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse for his work with Amnesty International and the Global Refugee Initiative, as well as is outspokenness on issues such as sexual abuse, racism, and the rights of refugees in Ireland.
A recording of his interview with current Hist Treasurer, Áine Kennedy, can be viewed on our Instagram.
The Inaugural is an annual event where the Auditor picks a topic to give an address on, accompanied by a panel of expert guest speakers.
This year, the Auditor of the 253rd Session, Sébastien Dunne Fulmer, chose to give their address on “The Importance of Discourse in the Modern Day”. The event was chaired by Professor David McConnell, President of the Society.
Sébastien’s address was responded to by Cody Keenan, who served as Barack Obama’s chief speechwriter, and Rory Montgomery (former Librarian of the Hist), a distinguished diplomat and key Irish negotiator for both the Good Friday Agreement and Brexit.
Cody Keenan was awarded the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse, while a number of student achievement were also recognised. Athena Wu, Anya Wilson, and Katy Harrington were presented with their trophies as the Champions of the Hist’s Maidens’ Competition, Oscar Wilde Card Competition, and Freshers’ Masters Competition.
The livestream of the Inaugural can be viewed here.
Photos can be found here.
From left to right; Rory Montgomery (Honorary Member), Sébastien Dunne Fulmer (Auditor), David McConnell (President), Cody Keenan, Áine Kennedy (Treasurer)
