It’s that time of year again. The time when emails about module enrolment begin to creep back into our inboxes and when we sigh and reluctantly crack open our laptops to face the harsh reality of our reading lists. That’s right: it’s (almost) back to term time but not to fret! We need to remember that there will be plenty to look forward to once College starts back up: post-lecture pints, finally seeing our College friends after a summer apart, and, of course, society events. With over 120 societies (and even more sports clubs), there are events for everyone over the course of the year. With that in mind, here is a (brief) overview of some of the society highlights from last year.
For the artists and creatives: There is no shortage of events and societies for creative-minded people, with DU Players being one of the best known societies on campus. Along with their many incredible productions, the society also hosted workshops, Q&A sessions, and open mics. Players is just one of many options however, with many Society of the Year awards handed out to other creative societies. DU Film’s annual 48 hour film festival and the multi-society Battle of the Bands were awarded Best Multi -Day Event and Best Collaborative Event respectively. Of course, there are many brilliant events that go unawarded as well, such as LitSoc’s collaboration with TUD, DCU, and UCD to create A Midsummer Night’s Dream themed ball in April. ‘Ball season’ is the highlight of the social year for many people, so keep an eye out for Instagram posts and Arts Building posters for fun themed events and affordable tickets from the societies you know and love when next spring rolls around. My final (for now) recommendation in the realm of the arts is the Trinity Arts Festival, a fantastic annual festival running in February of each year. Previous events have included talks from people working in the arts, film screenings, and plenty of crafty workshops.
For the activists and politically-minded:
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of the endless bad news surrounding us, especially as students. However, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. A full return to in-person College last year saw an increase in protests happening on or around campus. Just a few weeks ago on July 12th , TCDSU joined a counter-demonstration against anti-transgender protesters outside Leinster House. Throughout the year, there were even more protests and demonstrations, with topics covering a large number of student issues. These events are a great starting place for people looking to get involved with politics or just to express their thoughts on issues that affect us all.
For the STEM people:
One of the most prominent student groups recently has been Formula Trinity, a group of students from every corner of College who have worked tirelessly to develop and build ‘Bertie’ which competed in the international Formula Student engineering competition in July. This group has been a great one to follow for people who are interested in STEM, Formula One, or are just excited to watch a brilliant team come together. On a broader level, the DU General Science Society was also nominated for Event of the Year for its Atomic Science Exhibition, a STEM competition for undergraduates.
And one for everyone:
Although not technically a society event, it would be remiss of me not to at least mention Trinity Ball as one of last year’s highlights. Possibly the event’s last year on campus for the next five years, the 2023 Ball was headlined by Two Door Cinema Club. With ongoing construction works disrupting access to main stage areas, the event’s future remains uncertain.
There is a society or event for everyone at College, and the new school year approaching means that there will be plenty of opportunities to explore the range on offer. Just remember to try to fit some lectures in between your various pub crawls and protests!
