University Philosophical Society
The Uiversity Philosophical Society (commonly known as The Phil) was founded in 1684, and is situated in the Graduates' Memorial Building of Trinity College, Dublin. It is traditionally a paper reading society, although debates are just as frequent today.
Guests in recent times have included Bono, Salman Rushdie, Bart Simpson (Nancy Carthwright), Ron Jeremy, Senator John McCain, Newt Gingrich, the Irish Prime Minister, Mr. Bertie Ahern, and countless other luminaries.
The Society's past Presidents and members include names as George Berkeley, Jonathan Swift, Oliver Goldsmith, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Oliver St. John Gogarty, Edward Carson, Mary Robinson, and Nobel Laureates E.T.S. Walton and Samuel Beckett.
During its long history, the Society has recorded the presence of many remarkable guests, among them Alexis de Tocqueville, Frederick Engels, Karl Popper, Bertrand Russell and Winston Churchill. In more recent years guests have included J.K. Galbraith, Mary Robinson, 'The Edge¹ of U2, Peter Sutherland, George Galloway, Howard Marks, Germaine Greer, Spike Milligan, Vivienne Westwood, and even 'Bart Simpson¹. In the 319th session guests included Salman Rushdie, FW de Klerk, Newt Gingrich, Bono, John Hume, John Simpson, Peter Arnett, and Clare Short.
For recent stories and speeches online please see:
McCain Story -http://www.irishabroad.com/News/Biz/olstory.asp?article=3148129
Irish Prime Minister's Speech http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=200&docID=1885
Senator McCain's speech http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Newscenter.ViewSpeech&Content_id=1430