In our ever-changing world, where politics loom over every part of life and culture while technological progress continues to constantly change the status quo and the tools at humanity’s disposal, the choice to be informed and active in politics becomes invaluable in shaping how we will reckon with the past to effectively use those tools and, with them, improve our living standards, protect human rights, uphold values while also ensuring a peaceful and sustainable future for the posterity. At Trinity, students have been historically involved in political activity and expression, recognizing the importance of young voices in politics. There are currently nine political parties represented on campus, delegations of students holding values ranging from conservative to progressive, as well as specific issue groups, though most of these societies operate as young wings of well-known Irish parties.
Below are profiles of each official political society’s values and activities at Trinity:
Cumann Wolfe Tone is the Ógra Fianna Fáil branch at Trinity and promotes centre-right values, including civil liberties, equal opportunity, and social welfare through the fostering of economic development and social responsibility. It also holds pro-European values and advocates for the protection of the environment and cultural heritage, notably the Irish language. With the establishment of the National Ógra Fianna Fáil Women’s Network, the youth wing has focused on a greater gender balance within the organisation, which has been reflected at Trinity. Wolfe Tone Cumann organizes political events including debates and hosting guest speakers like Minister Jack Chambers and MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú. Next term, it will host the Minister of Social Protection, Dara Calleary, for a discussion about the Irish language. Outside of putting on political events, it organizes nights out like Cumann-oke (karaoke), a trip to the Dáil, and, every Thursday, members gather to discuss important issues over coffee.
The Trinity Social Democrats represent a progressive political party that balances left-wing principles with a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to policy making. Unlike other political parties represented at Trinity, which operate as designated youth wings, the TCD SocDems act as a veritable branch of the Social Democrats to ensure that youth activity has direct link and impact within its internal workings. The party’s main goal is to promote the ideals of social democracy in Ireland, notably referencing the Nordic model of social democracy, to advance the welfare state and universal public services, economic equality, and a higher standard of education, healthcare and housing. Topics discussed in SocDems TDs include the housing crisis, climate change, and availability and quality of public services in Ireland. Other than hosting group discussions and informing students about social democracy, the SocDems also participate in debates with students holding different political perspectives, as well as hosting social events like game nights, movie nights and pub quizzes. Though only recently established, the TCD SocDems have been Trinity’s most popular political party for five consecutive years, according to polls.
Young Fine Gael (YFG) at Trinity represents the young wing of Fine Gael, a centre-right, pro-European party which supports a social market economy, individual responsibility, equal opportunity and a balance between free enterprise and social protection. Its goals include promoting social equality, the rule of law, strong institutions and taking a pragmatic approach to climate change, while maintaining focus on community, family and political stability. YFG holds both regional and national events, including collaborations with other political societies and YFG branches around Dublin, trips to the Dáil and hosting guest speakers. This year, an exciting event was when the TCD YFG granted the Trinity European Laureate Award to former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Other than participating in political events, it also hosts various group nights and organizes international trips, like an upcoming one to Belgium.
Ógra Shinn Féin TCD is Trinity’s youth wing of Sinn Féin, a left-wing, nationalist and democratic socialist party. Its main principles include republicanism, socialism, internationalism, feminism, and environmentalism. Issues that it campaigns for include Irish unity, housing, Irish language rights, mental health awareness and anti-spiking. Furthermore. Ógra Shinn Féin promotes internationalism, standing with people oppressed globally like those in Palestine, the Basque Country, Western Sahara, and more. Recently, in response to the US’s breach of international law in Venezuela, members have mobilised, participating in protests and banner drops. Beyond campaigning on important questions, Ógra Shinn Féin TCD holds various events including panel discussions, social nights out and movie screenings.
Labour Youth TCD is the Trinity youth wing of the Labour Party, Ireland’s oldest existing political party and one which leans centre left and holds the values of social democracy and trade unionism. Its main goal is to improve workers’ rights and work conditions in Ireland by strengthening the state of trade unions and promoting general social progress. Labour Youth holds debates and discussions on campus, often engaging with other left-wing parties to invite diverse perspectives and reach more of the student population. It endeavours to get students involved in the political process through various events and projects, which have included sitting in on Leinster House debates, contributing to Labour’s alternative budget and sending a delegation to the Labour conference in Limerick.
People Before Profit (PBP) TCD is the youth wing of People Before Profit at Trinity and represents socialist values which encompass feminism, environmentalism and workers’ rights while maintaining an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist perspective. At its core, PBP TCD holds to social solidarity – that is the role political parties have in protecting the dignity and livelihoods of all society. Members participate in demonstrations, reading and discussion groups and social events, as well as hosting speakers and engaging with other political societies and social advocacy groups. Though it’s always remained steadfast in connecting Trinity students to the socialist politics and the working class movement, the Trinity youth wing actually precedes the official party itself, existing prior as the Socialist Workers’ Student Society.
The Trinity Young Greens is Trinity’s youth wing of the Green Party, which maintains climate action, social justice, grassroots democracy and peace as the way toward a sustainable future. Events members partake in include Dáil tours, coffee mornings, field trips and more. Currently, society events are on hold until an AGM is held. However, in the coming term, the Young Greens will be holding a re-launch event and electing a new committee, presenting an opportunity for students interested in ameliorating the climate crisis and advocating for sustainability to join the new era of student involvement in Green politics unfolding on campus.
The Workers’ Party TCD, the youth wing of the Workers’ Party, a republican, Marxist-Leninist party which strives for a democratic, secular and socialist Republic of Ireland. On campus, they organize debates, discussions and guest speaker events, as well as more social events like coffee hours, pub nights and film screenings.
The Pirate Party TCD is a political-technological party which holds civil liberties and personal freedoms over private interests as its core belief system. It embraces free culture online and rejects censorship and surveillance. Accordingly, the Pirate Party manages the Trinity VPN to protect students from censorship and restricted access to the internet. It also hosts hackathons, Capture the Flag events and various seminars informing students about hacking, privacy and more.
Faced with bias in the media and general polarisation, and as an individual still in the process of politicisation, it’s important to inform yourself about and potentially join a party that not only aligns with your belief system but also challenges it and exposes you to different perspectives. Without new participation in political societies, moreover, this plurality of opinion and constructive discourse on campus comes under threat, especially as the Central Societies Committee narrows its regulations for political societies. It’s important to get involved – individual engagement in student-run youth wings keeps Trinity’s tradition of political participation alive, equipping students with an awareness of politics that trickles into their respective areas of study and spans beyond university.
