Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at a gala dinner this evening.
In a Facebook post, TCDSU described the event as “an evening of nostalgia and delight” and invited those attending to “wind back the clock” with them.
Speaking to The University Times, TCDSU president Kevin Keane said: “It’s important on milestones like this to reflect on the successes the union has had.” According to Keane, people are coming to the celebration who “haven’t been involved in the union for 20 years, but want to come back”, with some TCDSU alumni coming from as far away as Norway to attend this evening.
Keane expressed hopes that the union could come together more in the future for these kinds of celebrations. “This isn’t going to be a one-off event”, he said.
TCDSU celebrated its 50th anniversary throughout the year with a redesigned logo and redesigned hoodies for class representatives. It has been a particularly historic year for the union, as members successfully campaigned to repeal the eighth amendment and helped fight off the introduction of supplemental exam fees. The union has also had success in national student politics, with TCDSU Welfare Officer Damien McClean elected Vice-President for Welfare of the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) earlier this year.
In previous years, TCDSU was at the forefront of campaigning for marriage equality and was one of the first students’ unions in Ireland to distribute information about abortion to students in the late 1980s. Previous presidents of the union include Senator Lynn Ruane, Senator Ivana Bacik and broadcaster Joe Duffy.
The formal dinner will take place in the Dining Hall in Front Square and will be attended by current union members and TCDSU alumni. Between 65 and 70 people are expected to attend.
