The 35th annual Central Societies Committee (CSC) Society of the Year Awards took place on Thursday, March 12th, at the Radisson Blu Hotel. After Conchúr Ó Cathasaigh, CSC Chairperson, opened the ceremony, Provost Linda Doyle took the stage, welcoming the guests and thanking the organisers of the event. The Provost expressed her admiration for Trinity students, saying: “I am so impressed and so amazed, every single time I go to a society.” Doyle also noted that the university leaders she meets at other colleges are always impressed by the strength and size of the societies Trinity offers, and said that they are a core part of what makes Trinity so special. After Doyle’s remarks, the awards ceremony began, with individual judges announcing specific prizes.
Trinity Vincent de Paul (VDP) took home the Award for Best Large Society. The other nominated societies were the Philosophical Society (The Phil), Law Society, Dublin University Consulting Group, Literary Society, and DU Film Society.
The Best Medium Society Award was won by Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC), with the other nominees being TCD Women’s Health Society, Trinity Musical Theatre (TMT), Society for International Affairs (SoFIA), Dublin University Photography Association (DUPA), and DU Dance.
Eastern European Society won the Best Small Society Award, with the other nominated societies including TCD Linguistics Society, Trinity Orchestra, DUDJ Society, and Trinity College Singers.
DU Film was awarded the Societies’ Choice Award — a prize determined by the collective vote of all the other present societies during the event (54 ballots cast). Next, TCD Women’s Health won the Best Overall Society Award.
After expressing admiration for society events around Trinity, saying, “When I go to an event that one of you organised, it just so completely and utterly lifts my spirit”, Linda Doyle announced Trinity TV’s “The Traitors Ireland Discussion Panel/Q&A” as the Best Society Event of the Year. Later, the best Collaborative Event Award was won by TCD Women’s Health Society and DU History, for their “Gender and Asylum/Mental Hospital Confinement in Ireland” event. TMT won the Best Multi-Day Event Award for their “Spring Awakening” show. The Geographical Society won the award for Best Society Trip Award for their January trip to Berlin.
The Best Society Publication award was given to the Vegan Society for “The Vegan View”. DUPA won the Best Society Poster for their “Anam Exhibition” poster, as well as the Best Online Presence Award.
Molly Scanlon, from FLAC, took home the Best Fresher Award, and Jack Joseph, the Social Media Officer of DUDJ, received the Best Individual Award.
Two new awards, which form part of the Trinity Student Belonging Fund, were also announced at the ceremony: the Community Spirit Award for “exceptional commitment to fostering connection, inclusion, and a strong sense of community” and the Best Community Building Event Award. The Knitting Society won the Community Spirit Award. Then, the Best Community Building Event Award, dedicated to “particularly meaningful contributions to building community on campus,” was awarded to DUDJ for their “Trinity Sound System Build” event.
The Sustainability Award was awarded to DUPA, and Trinity VDP took home the Inclusion Award. Then, the Gradam na Gaeilge (Irish Language Award) was awarded to Cumann Cheoil Traidisiúnta (TradSoc). The Postgraduate Engagement Award was presented and awarded to the Genetics Society.
Speaking with the University Times, Henry James, Treasurer of the CSC, said, “The Society of the Year Awards is an annual event, or, celebration, ultimately, of the committees of societies and all the work they do […] everyone on society committees are full-time students, balancing the roles and responsibilities of operating societies, from those with 50 members to over 2000, there is a large level of commitment that committees put into their events and operations throughout the year. The Society of the Year Awards is one of the ways we can celebrate and give back”. He went on to add, “For me, I find it to be a fantastic evening; this is my fourth Society of the Year Awards I’ve attended, and I’ve seen it grow.”
Commenting on the thirty-five years of the awards, James noted that the winners “rotate”. Still, he said TMT, FLAC, and Trinity VDP specifically tend to do “very well”. On the nomination process, James said the judges “really sift through nominations” and “it’s clear how much effort and energy and dedication societies have”. He continued that “even societies that didn’t win awards tonight […] we at the CSC obviously appreciate all the work they do [and] for their fellow students”, saying “it makes all the work we do worth it, to see [societies] have fun and enjoy it”.
During his final speech, which closed the official part of the event, Ó Cathasaigh, CSC Chair, addressed all the societies: “Tonight is really all about you […] societies really are truly the heart and soul of Trinity”. He also underlined how they present “opportunities to learn, connect, and grow […] societies are where friendships are formed, passions are discovered, and a real sense of belonging is found”. He added: “As always, it really is a challenge for our judges”, and thanked the CSC committee, “society officers and committee members”, stating, “tonight is meant to be for you, everything you’ve done and achieved […] you should [all] be immensely proud.”
This year, a record over 320 nominations were received by the CSC, with the awards being presented in 20 categories, two of which were only just introduced. The attendees of the ceremony were treated to a three-course dinner, followed by a DJ set.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Best Overall Society: TCD Women’s Health
Best Large Society: Trinity Vincent De Paul (VDP)
Best Medium Society: Free Legal Advice Clinic (FLAC)
Best Small Society: Eastern European
Societies’ Choice Award: DU Film Society
Best Event: Trinity TV for the Traitors Ireland Discussion Panel / Q&A
Best Collaborative Event: TCD Women’s Health & DU History for Gender and Asylum/Mental Hospital Confinement in Ireland
Best Community Building Event: DUDJ for Trinity SoundSystem Build
Community Spirit Award: Knitting
Gradam na Gaeilge: Cumann Cheoil Traidisiúnta Colaiste na Tríonóide
Best Online Presence: DU Photography Association (DUPA)
Best Individual: Jack Joseph (DUDJ)
Best Fresher: Molly Scanlon (FLAC)
Best Society Publication: DU Vegan Society for The Vegan View
Best Society Poster: DU Photography Association (DUPA) for their Anam Exhibition poster
Inclusion Award: Trinity Vincent De Paul (VDP)
Sustainability Award: DU Photography Association (DUPA)
Best Multi-Day Event: Trinity Musical Theatre (TMT) for their Spring Awakening show
Postgraduate Engagement Award: Genetics Society (GenSoc)
Best Society Trip: Geographical Society for their trip to Berlin
