NUIG Literary & Debating Society
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Brief History
The Literary & Debating Society is currently in its 160th Term, and its history interweaves with the history of NUI Galway itself. Originally the Literary & Scientific Society, it was a forum for delivery of academic papers. However, the discussion of these papers was often more heated, and better enjoyed by those in attendance, and so the society switched focus. Indeed the early debates were often a little too heated, and on one occasion, the argument over the standard of medical education in the then Queens College Galway, resulted in a duel, with pistols issued to the main protagonists. After this, the society was disowned by the University, and was banned from campus. However the society continued to meet, off campus, in a privately rented room.
However, The Lit & Deb was not away from the college for long, and returned to the campus to continue hosting debates on topical issues. The most important aspect of the society is the openness and inclusively of the forum. In all 15,000 registered students and staff members can all come along on a Thursday night to propose any motion they wish, or vote on any motion under discussion and while duels are not as common now, passionate debate is still commonplace.
The Lit & Deb have many records to their name. The society was the first Irish debating society to elect a female auditor. In the 1980's Lit & Deb broke the World record for the longest continuous debate, but lost it later that decade. However 1995 the society broke the record again, a record they still hold to this day, after speaking for 28 days, 24 hours a day, (or the entire month February) on the motion That This House Has All The Time In The World.
The society has a strong involvement in external debating also, with several winners of the Irish Times and even the World University Debating Championship among its alumni. The society also contributes to the debating calendar by hosting an annual debating intervarsity, The National Law Debates.
Current Committee
Auditor: Dan Colley
Vice Auditor: Jackie Driscoll
Treasurer: Emmett Connolly
Recording Secretary:
Corresponding Secretary:
Debates Secretary: Nora Ni Dhomhnaill
External Convenor: OisÃn Collins
Schools Convenor: Cornelia Carey
Literary Officer: Zoe McNair
PRO:
Promotions:
SDO:
Clerk of the House:
Former Auditors
2007/2008: Patrick Cluskey
2006/2007: Donna Cummins
2005/2006: Steven Nolan
2004/2005: Kevin Leavy
2003/2004: Martin Collins
2002/2003: Mark Hannify
2001/2002: Elaine Dobbyn
2000/2001: Ashling Currid/Keith Maye
