Monday the 20th of September, 2021. Having received my CAO offer not two weeks before, I arrived at Freshers fair to a new electricity in the air.
Ireland was transitioning out of lockdown and students were coming back to campus. This was a Fresher’s week for 2nd years also, who prior to this were subject mostly to depressing pub quizzes on zoom calls and online watch parties to provide them an escape from the mundanity of online lectures. The feeling was palpable. DUDJ (Trinity’s DJ Society) complemented the sunny weather to create the atmosphere for such a momentous occasion. Trinity was back, and wasn’t afraid to show it.
My first society event was traffic light drinks with the French Soc at the Pav Marquee. Without a word of French to my name, I joined a group and had an enjoyable night, while avoiding looking at my bank account balance (when the insane inflation was only just beginning.) I felt like an outsider, but nonetheless joined in to savour the famous college experience I was once promised as a self-reward for Leaving Cert results. This was followed up by an evening movie screening with the Film Society of The Grand Budapest Hotel by the Campanile; still the best memory I have of society life in Trinity.
To address incoming freshers for a moment: You’re adults now. College is an opportunity to live, do new things that were never an option during your formal schooling years. Over 125 societies, ranging from the Pirate Party all the way to the Botanic Society exist for you to embrace new hobbies and make new friends, outlets I wish I had when in school. For simplicity’s sake I will provide a run-down of the Arts and Culture ones.
The Heavy Hitters
The big five as I like to call them, DUPA (photography), DU Film, DU Players, Trinity Fashion Society, and TAF (Trinity Arts Festival) are the big dogs, hundreds of members apiece, and renowned for their Fresher’s Week antics and regular event schedule. With a strong grounding in the fabric of student life, their larger events can hit legendary status, with the intention of creating a legacy to rival that of the Hist and Phil.
DU Players, an amateur theatre society, tend to exhibit their illustrious black box theatre from their table, so if you see a large black wooden object among the many stalls, that’s them.
Events this week for DU Players include Wednesday Night Live with Sketches and Special Musical guests, time and place to be confirmed, usually done in their theatre in the Players building, just beside the Samuel Beckett theatre.
The Film Society has the likes of Robert Pattinson and Matthew McConaghey frequenting the stalls for photo ops most notably with the Provost in recent years, granted their long flights and tight schedules often result in them arriving at the stall flattened and decrepit by sheer exhaustion. One glance and you might say they’re as stiff as cardboard!
Some events the Film Society have on Freshers Week include a pub crawl with QSoc, Trinity’s LGBT+ Society, on Thursday the 19th of September at 6pm, beginning at the Pavilion Bar – the Pav. Ticket sales will be advertised shortly, although expect a QR code at their stand to guide you to purchase. Other events include their Video Café, a bi-weekly coffee hour dedicated to a specific film theme on Wed 18th 1-3pm in the Elizabethan room (First Floor House 6), along with a mystery screening in the JM Synge in the Arts block later that evening at 6pm. Video café will continue on Friday 20th at 12-2pm in the Atrium room 4, just to the left of the dining hall.
One should expect a myriad of photography equipment at DUPA’s table along with previous works, laying testament to the wonders of how societies in Trinity foster and facilitate creativity. Sponsorships, college grants and crowdfunding permit societies to run themselves and invest into capital and other supports long term so no financial or technical barriers to exploring your hobby or achieving your artistic dream (within reason) exist.
The Fashion Society usually don flamboyant outfits; a precursor to their support for their openness to all styles, crazes and statements that students and staff alike feel inspired to wear, as referenced by their decision to provide Linda with a platform for her many cloaks. Quite a fun society, I am told.
Trinity Arts Festival is best known for the infamous GMB takeover in November. Consider it Trinity’s culture night, and the main festival usually in February. You should expect to see them at the stalls. My personal admiration for them is strong; how they bring together all the Arts and Culture groups for one big exhibition of all that Trinity has to offer in this arena is admirable.
Ethnic Societies
The Afro Caribbean, Hispanic, Ukrainian, South East Asian, Korean and Caledonian are some of the many ethnic societies in Trinity, offering a space for those of said ethnicities to bond over their culture, and a chance for others to learn about different cultures. Expect various traditional treats, clothing, and other paraphernalia to grace your eyes as you pass these stalls during Freshers’ Week.
One would recommend following their Instagram accounts in advance to stay updated about events for Fresher’s week and beyond. My favourite of these societies has to be the Korean Society. They punch well above their weight in terms of their number of events and have their own website, even though they are classified as a small society. Their committee really do make the most out of their positions. Fair dues, fellas.
Music Societies
Trinity Orchestra, Trad Soc, Alternative music (DUAMS) and the Choral Society among others will be present at the stalls, exhibiting instruments and information on upcoming auditions. DUAMS is definitely the most interesting out of these societies however, having worked with them last year for an event there is more than meets the eye (or in this case the ear). Their demeanour and tastes might seem too niche for some, although when contacted for comment, their Events Officer stated, in order to temper fears:
“We’re actually really nice”
You can decide for yourself at their upcoming events:
Wednesday 18th – Live Music in the Pav Marquee from AZURE, Sygh, and Epilogue
Show Starts at 7pm, free entry, no ticket required
Thursday 19th – Trinity band night with ENTS and DU Music – Workman’s Main Room
Doors at 10.30, Tickets price TBC
Hidden Gems
Comedy Soc, Trinity TV and Trinity Musical Theatre might not be my cup of tea, but they’re certainly ones to keep an eye on. Trinity Musical Theatre did a clean sweep of the Central Societies’ Committee Awards Ceremony last year for their rendition of Carrie. While in its infancy this society is definitely one to look out for as they show no signs of slowing down.
Trinity TV can have a good year in terms of events and engagement, but they can also be rather quiet, much of the challenge with smaller societies.
To finish, my ultimate recommendation is to get lost in Freshers fair, stumble across a society or club you never thought you might have an interest in. Try new things, talk to new people. College is only really half academia, the other half is the clubs, societies and other groups that make the academia worth it. Hopefully this brief personal guide to some of the Arts and Culture ones will give you a sense of what to expect.
More information, including membership fee payments (for those who have access to their TCD email) is available here:
