The Former Auditors' Debate

On the 7^th February this year Lit'n'Deb hosted a Former Auditors' Debate in conjunction with the Alumni Association, incorporating Cumann Ceimithe na Gaillimhe. An extensive letter-writing campaign resulted in probably one of the biggest reunions of former auditors the Society has ever seen. Attendees included

Ray Cooke ('57-'58), Sean Stewart ('61 -'62), Tom Hayes ('79-'80), Fr Richard Lyng ('87-'88), Kieran Duffy ('92-'93), Conor Nelson ('99-'00), Aisling Currid (2000) and Keith Maye (2000-'01).

The speakers, who participated in the main debate on the motion: "That the true University has no place in modern Ireland", included some of the finest speakers to ever come out of UCG. On the Proposition was Damian Crawford ('82-'83), a winner of the Irish Times competition representing UCG and the World Debating Championships representing Kings' Inns, Patsy McGarry ('74-'75), Religious Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times newspaper and Mairead Ní Nuadhain ('73-'74), a Commissioning Editor for RTÉ. On the Opposition was Dr Paula Walsh ('77-'78), John V Lennon ('59-'60), a living legend in a yellow tweed suit (!) and Conor Bowman ('86-'87), a former winner of the Irish Times competition representing UCG.

Also in attendance was historian Donal Taheny who was secretary for the Society in 1939 and guest chair for the debate was Oonagh Monahan, Chair of the NUI, Galway Alumni Association and a secretary for the Society in 1986.

The debate was a lively one - intelligent discourse filled with humour and emotion, haunted by 'the ghost of UCG past'. Passion on the issues at hand led to some conflict between Patsy McGarry and Sean Stewart - the 70's generation thought that all should have the opportunity to go to college unlike the situation in the late 50's and early 60's when only the privileged few could afford it. The present generation were shaken into realisation of the struggle others underwent to ensure the free education that is taken for granted today.

Ray Cooke and John Lennon proved an entertaining pair at the reception in the Forster Court Hotel that followed the debate. They had been best friends in college but hadn't seen each other in twenty years. An argument over whether the time they had been kicked out of the Shelbourne hotel had been the first day of Lennon's honeymoon or the occasion of their victory of the first Pro-Am golf tournament in Ireland remained unsolved at the end of the night…

It was an eye-opening experience to see such a bizarre mix of UCG alumni together but the passion for student societies especially the Lit'n'Deb that they shared made it a rewarding experience for all. As John Lennon said goodbye to Ray Cooke at 3am (approx) he declared that "God gave us memory so we could have roses in December". I, for one, am certain that the memories I take from this University and the Lit'n'Deb will be brightening up my winters for many years to come.

Elaine Dobbyn

Auditor 2001-'02