Mary Harney becomes first female president of Trinity’s Hist

Posted on: 08 March 2024

Former Tánaiste Mary Harney has been appointed President of the College Historical Society at Trinity College Dublin, marking the first time a woman has held this role.  

Previous presidents include Douglas Hyde, Conor Cruise O'Brien, and Frederick Boland. 

Mary Harney, who served as the student debating society’s first ever female auditor as an economics student at Trinity in 1976-1977 (see Committee image below), succeeds Professor David McConnell who has been the Hist president since 2002. 

Mary Harney today officiates at her first Hist event - an International Women’s Day symposium to mark 120 years since Trinity admitted its first female students in 1904. It was December 1968 when the Hist finally voted to admit female students as members. 

Mary Harney said:

“For me the Hist offered a wonderful and enjoyable opportunity to get involved with the issues of the day. Little did I then realise what an excellent training ground it was to be for a career in politics. I like to think of that time as my first, but by no means the last, exercise in mould-breaking. I am now delighted to have another opportunity to support and participate in a society which continues to place eloquence and passionate debate at its centre, but where being a woman debater is no longer remotely exceptional.” 

Hist auditor Áine Kennedy said:  

"The Society is delighted to have unanimously elected Mary Harney as our new President. The office of the president provides essential support and leadership to the student committee of the Hist and we are confident that there is nobody more qualified and able to fill the exceptionally big shoes left by Professor David McConnell. Major milestones for women in the Hist have been achieved regrettably late in many cases. And so, we are particularly pleased that the individual we believe to be the best possible candidate also happens to be a trailblazing woman."  

Today’s event consists of two symposia that consider the past and future challenges for women at Trinity. The Trinity Women Graduates organisation is a co-organiser. Speakers include Mary Harney, Provost Dr Linda Doyle, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Senator Lynn Ruane, TCDSU President-elect Jenny Maguire, and Mary Leahy, head of employee relations in Trinity and a former union campaigner for equal pay for women at the university. 

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