(Redirected from Literary and Historical Society, University College Dublin)
The 'Literary and Historical Society' (L&H) is '
University College Dublin''s oldest
debating society and the official College Debating Union. Founded in 1855, it is one of the most prestigious and well-known student societies in Ireland. The society has over 22,000 ordinary members and approximately 3,500 enrolled members.
Activities
House Debates
The Society gathers once a week to debate a topic of the day. This is the main activity of the society, and typically takes place on Wednesday evenings in Theatre Q. Personalities central to the topic being discussed are invited to enlighten the house with knowledge and arguments specific to the motion. Motions for debate range from
euthanasia (at which a Dutch euthanasiast spoke) to the more light-hearted "Battle of the Sexes" debate, chaired last year by rugby pundit and radio presenter
George Hook.
Guest speakers and L&H Accolades
The L&H also regularly invites speakers outside of debates. Recently these speakers have included
Roger Moore,
Noam Chomsky,
John Hume,
Bill Bryson,
John Nash and
Robin Cook. Guests range from academics, to activists and sometimes, controversial figures.
The Society awards Honorary Fellowships to individuals who have "contributed significantly to a field of human endeavour". The Honorary Fellowship of the L&H is the highest honour that any student body in Ireland can bestow upon an individual. Recent recipients include
F. W. De Klerk,
Rev. Jesse Jackson,
Noam Chomsky and
John Howard.
The Society awards the James Joyce Award to people who have achieved considerable accomplishments in the course of their lives. Amongst those to have received the James Joyce Award are former UN Chief Weapons Inspector
Hans Blix, celebrated novelist
Bill Bryson, former England soccer captain
Gary Lineker and Irish comedy writer
Graham Linehan.
Since the foundation of the Irish state, every
Taoiseach and
President has addressed the Society.
The Strauss Ball
Each year, the Society hosts UCD's only
white tie ball, the Strauss Ball. Each lady attending is given a dance card, which they fill with ten different names. After
waltzes with each person on the card, the orchestra moves aside for the DJ. The Society also hosts various nightclub events throughout the year.
Competitive Debating
The L&H is considered the most successful competitive debating society in Ireland, by a significant margin. The Society has won a number of international debating competitions and has enjoyed dominance in The
Irish Times and
Mace debating competitions as well as international and national intervarsities. The Society has attended the
World Universities Debating Championship, and progressed further, more than any other Irish society, and has sent teams as far afield as
Asia,
Australia,
Africa and
North America. In 2005/2006 UCD hosted the
World Universities Debating Championship.
The Society also promotes and organises competitive debating in schools across Ireland through the Schools' Mace, the
Denny Schools Debating Competition and the
AIB L&H Junior Schools' Competition, all of which reach secondary schools throughout the country.
History
Foundation
The L&H was founded in
1855, a year before the foundation of the
Catholic University of Ireland, the precursor to UCD. Both the university and the debating society were founded by
Cardinal John Henry Newman. One of the Society's most famous members from this era was
James Joyce, who presented his paper "Drama and Life" before a crowd of assembled members in
1900.
Most of the College's societies, including the
UCD Student Union itself can trace their roots to the L&H, which is older than the university itself.
Earlsfort Years
Before the university moved to
Belfield, the debates were held on Saturday nights in the
Physics Theatre, in
Earlsfort Terrace. Here, the popularity and renown of the L&H flourished and the Society first became known on a national scale. Quite often, events occurring at the Society's debates made front page news in the national press.
At various occasions, college authorities and external bodies attempted to shut the Society down, most memorably in
1961, when the L&H was suspended by
UCD authorities. No such attempts have been successful.
On the Belfield Campus
In
1972, the Society again relocated, this time to
UCD's Belfield campus, where the majority of students now studied. Since this time the Society has grown in size and popularity and continues to be the 'bearpit' for debate that it was renowned for since the
1950s.
Book
A 150th Anniversary book, edited by Frank Callanan SC, has been published to update James Meenan’s centenery history of the society, published in 1955. The book, together with the reprinted centenary history, details the complete story of Ireland's most famous debating society and comprises a range of articles by various personalities from the L&H's past on the last 50 years of the Society.
Organisation
Auditor and Committee
The L&H is run by a committee of enrolled members, each with a specific portfolio of responsibilities. The committee is chosen by the Auditor, who is elected on a yearly basis by the enrolled membership of the Society. The Auditor is the head of the committee and responsible for the general running of the Society.
The Auditor for the 153rd Session is Michael MacGrath.
President and Vice-Presidents
These roles are largely ceremonial. The President of the L&H is
Dr. Hugh Brady, the President of
UCD. There are a number of vice-presidents, mostly made up of former members.
Funding
The Society has received an increased amount of funding in recent years, due to corporate sponsorship and college contributions. The Society receives far less funding from College authorities than its yearly calendar of events demands, and as such seeks corporate sponsorship to cover the costs of each Session.
External links
★
Literary and Historical Society Website
★
UCD Website
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