You will not leave me, and I'll never be alone, for I'll hear your laughter echo in the night. Whenever I hear the breezes whisper through the trees, I'll hear you tell me everything's all right. The trees will whisper your name…HAUGHEY! Or at least that's what some idiot from Dublin thinks.

The Irish times Final, after its mandatory trip round the lesser colleges of Ireland , had returned once again to NUIG and the City Of Tribes on the 24 th February 2006. According to the Monday edition of The Irish Times “46th annual debating final was hosted by the NUI Galway Literary and Debating Society, represented by auditor Stephen Nolan and recording secretary Patrick Cluskey.” The “minutes” were read by Mr. Cluskey and, without taking objections due to the piece's clarity of purpose, passed.

Martin Collins (law) proposed “TTHW invite David Irvine to speak to the society in 3 years-pending appeal.” Collins said that this was not allowing Irvine to spout his views on holocaust denial but instead allowing member of the house to challenge these views. Opposing was Dave Finn (old man) who had wandered into Kirwan to try and warm is bony, brittle, bones… Finn said that Lit & Deb stands for free speech, but not when Irvine refuses to share the platform of debate he would be given and engage in debate. The motion was passed.

Main business was of course the Irish Times Final. The chairman was Senator David Norris and the adjudicators were Geraldine Kennedy, Editor of The Irish Times (presiding judge); Prof Brent Northup, chair of the communications department at Carroll College, Montana and NPDA coach; Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, president of NUI Galway; Kerida Naidoo, barrister and former convenor of the Irish Times Debate; and Aoife Titley, former individual winner (2001) and former convenor of the Irish Times Final.

Luke Rider, from TCD Philosophical Society came down from an ivory tower much like a sophisticated monkey with a silver spoon stuck in his mouth, to propose the motion that “This house believes history will judge Haughey harshly.” Rider said that said that Haughey's legacy had not been positive as he placed the pursuit of power before patriotism. Haughey's good deeds did not mitigate his corruption. For 1 st opposition was David Boughton from the TCD Historical Society. As he reached the podium he tossed some crumbs to the “impoverished Galwegians” from outside the pale. Boughton said that people are defined by their legacy. As Haughey's legacy, which including good macroeconomic advances such as low corporation tax and freeing us from the “tax and spend” approach to economics, was positive, history would judge him well. The next speaker was from UCD Literary and Historical Society and was Declan Bruton. Mr. Bruton was shocked and surprised that civilisation, along with concrete had reached Galway and said he would bring his finding back with him. Bruton said that history looks at a man and judge's strengths and weaknesses, good things and bad things. Haughey, a man bent only on power, will be judged harshly. Mark Murphy was next up for the bastion of the Kings Inn. Murphy called haughey “a man with flaws, a leader with vision.” He asked where was the societal harm in accepting bribes, saying the man will be judged on his social and economic policies.

Opening the individual part of the debate was Ross Maguire from the UCD L&H. “Haughey corrupts but absolute Haughey corrupts absolutely,” the speaker began. This “man with flaws” had made the office of Taoiseach dependant. His lifestyle was funded by corruption and if the people of Ireland had known of this corruption at the time, none of his policies would have been implemented. Opposing was Diarmuid Early from the UCC Philosophical Society. Cork , like Galway , really know how to have a good time. Early said that this debate was not about how people reacted at the time but the effects of his rein as Taoiseach. Haughey was in a position to do more in his lavish lifestyle than he would have been able to do otherwise. Next up from Kings Inn was Morgan Shelly who said that we have the lowest participation rate of 1 st time voters because of Haughey's legacy which resulted in greater apathy towards politics. The last individual speaker was from The Last Bastard Progeny of the Virgin Queen, and was John Mc Guirk. Mc Guirk said that there was a difference between a biography and a history book saying that Haughey's greatest strength was what eventually brought him down.

Closing the case for TCD Phil was Francis Kiernan who said that history does not give credit to the person “sitting in the chair.” Haughey can't take credit for something he did not consciously cause. Fiscal rectitude would have been easier without Haughey. Closing the case for TCD Hist was Ciarán Denny who said that academic historians will never settle on an answer. Haughey's corruption has not been bad as it has encouraged younger men to enter politics and fight corruption. Closing for UCD L&H was Louisa Ní Eadain who was naked…academically naked that is! Ní Eadain said that Haughey was the architect of his own downfall. A person in the public realm is judged on his public and private actions. Haughey would be judged harshly: history is no longer written by the victor because of the large amounts of primary sources. Closing the debate as a whole was the ever hilarious Barry Glynn. Glynn said that Haughey had changed many of his original policies to make them work. Public apathy was up all over Europe and cannot be attributed to Haughey's corruption. History paints in broad strokes and will not judge Haughey harshly. The adjudicators retired.

David Norris thinks of Haughey with sadness. A man once said that Haughey was so crooked that if you “fed him a nail, he'd shite a screw.” He had talent, humour and he was able to stand up to “that old bitch” Margaret Thatcher during the Fawklands crisis. Norris said that when Haughey locked eyes with him, he “rather thought that Haughey fancied” him. As Haughey was now diagnosed with Cancer Norris believed that a veil should be placed over Haughey's embarrassments and personal attacks should cease. He said that he was sitting on the picket fence.

The motion was opened to the floor and Kevin Leavy (Auditor 2004/2005) called Haughey the last great leader of this country. He reduced apathy as you either loved him or hated him. M.McHugh (Auditor 1975-1976) said that none of the speakers had reffered to the catalysts of change: Booby O' Malley, Desmond O'Malley and M. Harney. Enda Dolan (HLM) failed miserably at humour saying something about Madonna being “hung up” on the motion. By his understanding of the motion the debate should have been about whether Haughey deserve to be judged harshly. Damien Crawford (Auditor 1982-1983) called Kirwan the acoustically best debating chamber in the country. He criticised the speakers for leaving the chamber as they were not willing to stand over their beliefs. Haughey will be judged as man, not by the political strides he made. Louise Rouse (HLM) said that we should not hide behind a culture of corruption but act honourably at the ballot box. Robert Rooney (Law) said that Haughey built people up and made them feel important. Kieran Duffy (Auditor 1992-1993) said that the last thing his bewildered Granny had done before they lost her was vote for Haughey. Her last coherent ramblings whispered the name…HAUGHEY. Mr. Duffy alluded to whether his Granny had passed on or if she was simply lost… Duffy ended by saying he absolutely loathed Haughey.

The adjudicators returned. Leo Mulrooney (the convenor) thanked everyone in rhyming verse. Robert Rooney was thanked for all the hard work he had done in securing that the night was a great success.

The CA Ger Kennedy also thanked a bunch of people. The winners were announced:

•  Winning Team: Mark Murphy & Barry Glynn (Kings Inns)

•  Winning Individual: Diarmuid Early (UCC Philosoph)

•  Runner Up Team: Luke Ryder & Francis Kiernan (TCD Phil)

•  Runner Up Individual: Louisa Ní Eadain (UCD L&H)

The floor was finally returned to our great leader, Stephen Nolan. He listed a long number of thanks including thanks to Robert (his bitch) and Pamela (his girlfriend.) The motion was put to the floor and defeated. As old and new hacks intermingled the party raged on well into the night as plans and plots of world domination were hatched…