The Bicentenary
The Bicentenary of the College Historical Society was marked with a programme of events 2-7 March 1970. The Auditor was Ian Ashe.
A highlight of the Bicentenary programme was an address by Senator Edward Kennedy to the Society in the Examination Hall on 3 March 1970.
This event was chaired by Dr Frederick Boland, who was then President of the Society and Chancellor of the University.
HIST 250
The Hist250 week was opened by President Michael D. Higgins in conversation with Dr John Bowman. The week closed with the launch by the Chancellor of the University Prof. Mary McAleese of the first full history of the Society by Prof. Patrick Geoghegan and a Hist250 exhibition in the Long Room. This was followed by the Hist250 Gala Dinner in the Dining Hall of Trinity College.
Key events during the week featured Chief Justice Frank Clarke, former President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, former President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Sir Paul Collier, Kumi Naidoo, and former President of Ireland Professor Mary Robinson.
Hist GWR
The TCD Hist Club has been lucky enough to receive a Guinness World Record for recognition as the World’s Oldest Student Society. By December 2019 the stringent criteria had been laid out, involving a thorough collection of evidence, made difficult by the Society’s relationship with the College between 1794 and 1843, and rigorous examination by expert witnesses. The effort was finally completed over 2 years later, during the summer of the 253rd Session, with the Hist officially being awarded the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Record for the Oldest Student Society.