Sir, – That the College Historical Society is recognised as the world’s oldest college debating society is welcome (“Trinity ‘Hist’ officially recognised as the world’s oldest debating society”, News, September 18th). However, it was not founded by Edmund Burke, as suggested by some. His Club preceded it by some time. He was an MP in 1770 when the Hist started. As recorded in an Anthology of the Historical Society by Declan Budd and Ross Hinds (1997), Edmund Burke’s Club dates back to 1747. So we can prove we have been arguing longer than anybody. – Yours, etc,
ROBBIE O’NEILL,
Dublin 14.