Tom Burns from Queen’s University Belfast proposes the motion to the House

While we have already had a great run of Wednesday night debates this semester with motions ranging from whether Trinity should be ashamed of its past to the shortcomings of journalism in 2023, tonight’s debate was particularly special as it marked the beginning of our Guinness World Record week celebrations by indulging in a long standing tradition here at the Hist!

After its inception, the Hist inspired the creation of debating unions in other universities, including Cambridge, Oxford and Durham, with reciprocal agreements to allow access for each others’ members. In 1920, the Society celebrated its 150th anniversary with a corresponding debate against the Edinburgh Speculative Society and the Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Unions. The 200th and 250th anniversary celebrations featured ‘inter-debates’ in a similar manner, with students from around the world.

Chair Bobby McDonagh and the speakers and president of each Society

To commemorate our Guinness World Record achievement, students from the Oxford Union, the Durham Union, the Edinburgh Union, the Literific of Queen’s University Belfast, the L&H of UCD, and of course, the Hist, came together to debate the motion “This House Would Break Up the United Kingdom”, with former Irish Ambassador to the UK, Bobby McDonagh, as guest Chair.

You can watch the recording of this debate on our Instagram and it will also be uploaded to our YouTube in the coming weeks.