[1] Founded in 1855 by Cardinal John Henry Newman, as of 2017 it had over 5000 enrolled members, and has been the largest student society in UCD.
Former speakers have included actor Roger Moore, economist Paul Krugman, linguist Noam Chomsky, Irish politician John Hume, LGBTQ+ activist Rory O'Neil aka Panti Bliss, photographer and blogger Brandon Stanton, writer Bill Bryson, economist John Nash and British writer Neil Gaiman .
Jesse Jackson,[6] Noam Chomsky and Prime Minister of Australia John Howard, actor Ralph Fiennes, actor Will Ferrell,[7] author J. K. Rowling,[8] former UN Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, novelist Bill Bryson, former England soccer captain Gary Lineker, The Beatles' producer George Martin,[9] Monty Python member Michael Palin,[10] actor Martin Freeman, writer Salman Rushdie.
The society has attended the World Universities Debating Championship, in Asia, Australia, Africa and North America, reaching the grand final in both 2000 and 2002.
The new auditor for the coming year is appointed at this meeting, either as the result of an election from the enrolled membership or, in cases where a single candidate is unopposed, by nomination.
Notable former auditors of the society include former President of Ireland and Chief Justice Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, comedians Dara Ó Briain and Jarlath Regan, suffragist and writer Francis Sheehy-Skeffington and Irish Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman.