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Literary and Debating Society (University of Galway)

(Redirected from Literary and Debating Society (NUI Galway))

The Literary & Debating Society is located at the University of Galway. The society was founded as the Literary and Scientific Society in 1846, and incorporated into the then Queen's College, Galway, in 1852. It has as its objective "the promotion of oratory among the students of the University, and the faculty of clear thinking and sound reasoning upon matters which may be deemed to be of vital importance".

Literary and Debating Society
Formation1846, as the Literary and Scientific Society
TypeStudent debating union
WebsiteThe Literary And Debating Society

History

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1960s

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During the 1960s, tensions began to develop between the Society and the College authorities. In 1960, a debate on the motion "That the death-knell of Sinn Féin has sounded", due to be chaired by Owen Sheehy-Skeffington, was banned by the College authorities, leading to questions in Dáil Éireann. In 1964, during the Auditorship of Michael J. O’Connor, the Society was suspended from the College following an incident involving a poster. The Lit & Deb found refuge during this suspension with the Dominican Nuns at Taylor’s Hill, and held several debates in the Rosary Hall of their school there, including a Scots-Irish debate on the motion: "that bingo is a boil on the face of our modern society."

The Society soon returned to the College and resumed its meetings in the Greek Hall. The Auditor's chain of office was introduced in 1965, under the Auditorship of Michael D. Higgins.[1]

President's Medal

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The President’s Medal is the society’s highest accolade. Originally it was an award given to members who excelled in the field of oratory however it fell out of use in the 1950s. In recent times, the committee has resurrected the award and it is now an accolade that recognises the achievements of those outside the society, who excel in particular field. Among the recipients of the award are; Roddy Doyle, Ardal O'Hanlon, Patrick McCabe, Prof. Noam Chomsky, US Senator Mike Gravel, Congressman Bruce Morrison, Desmond Tutu,[2] Nobel Prize winner Prof. Edmund Phelps[3] and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Bertie Ahern was presented with the President's Medal in his hotel after the event on campus had to be abandoned because of a demonstrations by students.[4]

Activities

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The society has a strong involvement in external debating, with several winners of the Irish Times Debating Competition[5] and the World University Debating Championship among its alumni.

The Lit & Deb traditionally publishes two magazines.[6] "U.C.G.", the college annual, was founded as "Q.C.G." in 1902, and had responsibility for its publication entrusted to the society in 1914. "Criterion", a literary magazine which was founded by the college's now defunct Arts Society in the 1950s, was revived by the Lit & Deb during the 2001-2002 session, with the responsibility of its publication given to the Literary Convenor, a member of the society's committee.

The Lit & Deb has always had a connection with schools debating, from hosting the West of Ireland section of the All-Ireland Schools Debating Competition[7] to running workshops and tutorials to help develop the next generation of debaters. This fostering of new and inexperienced debaters part of the societies goals to promote debate, critical thinking and interaction with the issues of the day for all which is illustrated by the Society motto, 'Nunc Nunc Qui Timet Eloqui' - 'Now Now, Who Fears To Speak?'.

Notable Auditors and Vice Auditors

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Michael D Higgins NUI Honorary Degree Citation". January 2012.
  2. ^ "Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Visit NUI Galway". 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Nobel Prize Winner to Visit NUI Galway". 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Protest forces cancellation of Ahern speech". RTÉ News. 3 February 2009.
  5. ^ "Where are they now?". The Irish Times. 31 January 1992. p. 9. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  6. ^ "College Annual". Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  7. ^ "All-Ireland School Debating Competition".
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