Friday, 14 November 2025

This House Believes Beauty Is Pain

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The ninth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! This particular meeting was held in conjunction with the QUB Lore Society, and the House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Beauty Is Pain".


Speaking for the Proposition and representing the Lore Society were Alysha Healy, Eilish Monaghan, Eniola Isaaxand David Martin, and speaking for the Opposition were Elizabeth Noble, Florence Dairo, Anya Saluja, and Emma Jane Culleton.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:14) President's Questions

(00:06:51) Private Members’ Business

(00:19:51) Minutes

(00:29:05) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:30:35) Rules of the Debate

(00:32:58) Alysha Healy, First Prop

(00:40:01) Elizabeth Noble, First Opp

(00:47:50) Eilish Monaghan, Second Prop

(00:54:33) Florence Dairo, Second Opp

(01:02:14) Eniola Isaax, Third Prop

(01:07:54) Anya Saluja, Third Opp

(01:14:41) David Martin, Fourth Prop

(01:20:17) Emma Jane Culleton, Fourth Opp

(01:28:07) Questions from the House

(01:34:53) The Vote

(01:38:12) Announcements

(01:45:19) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Thursday, 13 November 2025

This House Would Love Thy Neighbour

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The eighth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Would Love Thy Neighbour".


Speaking for the Proposition were Reuben Cope, Chloe Cotton, Isabella Met, and Matthew Spratt, and speaking for the Opposition were Tom McCormack, George Farnon, Marc Ghaly, and Flynn Nugent.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:05) President's Questions

(00:07:20) Private Members’ Business

(00:20:55) Minutes

(00:29:55) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:31:27) Rules of the Debate

(00:33:06) Reuben Cope, First Prop

(00:39:15) Tom McCormack, First Opp

(00:46:59) Chloe Cotton, Second Prop

(00:54:08) George Farnon, Second Opp

(01:02:00) Isabella Met, Third Prop

(01:09:10) Marc Ghaly, Third Opp

(01:16:42) Matthew Spratt, Fourth Prop

(01:24:53) Flynn Nugent, Fourth Opp

(01:32:49) Questions from the House

(01:39:35) The Vote

(01:41:40) Announcements

(01:47:24) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!


This House Would Rather Be Feared Than Respected

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The seventh ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Would Rather Be Feared Than Respected".


Speaking for the Proposition were Rosa Ivory, Luke Coyle, and James Tourish, and speaking for the Opposition were Luca Barsalini, Nihal Bhatt, and Cormac McEntee.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:03) President's Questions

(00:09:14) Private Members’ Business

(00:23:07) Minutes

(00:31:36) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:33:05) Rules of the Debate

(00:34:45) Rosa Ivory, First Prop

(00:42:41) Luca Barsalini, First Opp

(00:50:25) Luke Coyle, Second Prop

(00:58:02) Nihal Bhatt, Second Opp

(01:05:52) James Tourish, Third Prop

(01:12:41) Cormac McEntee, Third Opp

(01:20:52) Questions from the House

(01:26:53) The Vote

(01:28:28) Announcements

(01:33:35) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Friday, 24 October 2025

This House Supports A Single Unionist Party

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The sixth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Supports A Single Unionist Party".


The meeting was guest-chaired by Baroness Kate Hoey. Speaking for the Proposition were Peter Martin MLAJay BasraJeff Dudgeon MBE, and Grant Warren, and speaking for the Opposition were Timothy Gaston MLADavid Bingham, Moore Holmes, and Jack Steele.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:23) President's Questions

(00:04:23) Private Members’ Business

(00:13:38) Minutes

(00:27:50) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:29:32) Rules of the Debate

(00:31:52) Opening Remarks by Baroness Hoey, Guest Chair

(00:35:11) Peter Martin MLA, First Prop

(00:42:25) Timothy Gaston MLA, First Opp

(00:49:47) Jay Basra, Second Prop

(00:57:32) David Bingham, Second Opp

(01:05:15) Jeff Dudgeon MBE, Third Prop

(01:14:40) Moore Holmes, Third Opp

(01:23:31) Grant Warren, Fourth Prop

(01:30:55) Jack Steele, Fourth Opp

(01:39:04) Questions from the House

(01:50:58) The Vote

(01:52:58) Closing Remarks by Baroness Hoey, Guest Chair

(01:58:55) Announcements

(02:06:16) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Monday, 20 October 2025

This House Believes Masculinity Is Inherently Toxic

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The fifth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Masculinity Is Inherently Toxic".


Speaking for the Proposition were Paul CunninghamWilliam BrowneLuella Coley, and Beth Lynam, and speaking for the Opposition were Luke CoyleBrandon Foster, Marc Ghaley, and Ashkya Chan Kaur.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:22) President's Questions

(00:07:50) Private Members’ Business

(00:20:01) Minutes

(00:35:07) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:36:37) Rules of the Debate

(00:38:09) Paul Cunningham, First Prop

(00:45:25) Luke Coyle, First Opp

(00:52:52) William Browne, Second Prop

(01:00:49) Brandon Foster, Second Opp

(01:06:04) Luella Coley, Third Prop

(01:12:29) Marc Ghaley, Third Opp

(01:18:53) Beth Lynam, Fourth Prop

(01:26:27) Ashkya Chan Kaur, Fourth Opp

(01:33:38) Questions from the House

(01:40:11) The Vote

(01:42:05) Announcements

(01:47:50) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Sunday, 12 October 2025

This House Supports A Wealth Tax

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The fourth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Supports A Wealth Tax".


Speaking for the Proposition were Eoin O'NeillTina BarghiMaeve Gee, and Jack Murray, and speaking for the Opposition were Tom McCormackElliot Dickie, Cormac McSparron, and Emma Jane Culleton.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:57) President's Questions

(00:07:57) Private Members’ Business

(00:16:07) Minutes

(00:26:05) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:27:43) Rules of the Debate

(00:29:17) Eoin O'Neill, First Prop

(00:37:05) Tom McCormack, First Opp

(00:44:50) Tina Barghi, Second Prop

(00:52:01) Elliot Dickie, Second Opp

(00:59:40) Maeve Gee, Third Prop

(01:07:02) Cormac McSparron, Third Opp

(01:14:14) Jack Murray, Fourth Prop

(01:20:46) Emma Jane Culleton, Fourth Opp

(01:28:09) Questions from the House

(01:42:00) The Vote

(01:44:08) Announcements

(01:50:35) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Saturday, 11 October 2025

This House Would Vote (Stormont Mixer 2025)

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The first special meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened for the annual Stormont Mixer to discuss the motion, "This House Would Vote".


Speaking for the Proposition were Peter Martin MLALuke CollinsAshyka Kaur, and Tom McCormack, and speaking for the Opposition were Hugh ChildNihal Bhatt, James Tourish, and Luke Coyle.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:00:49) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:01:48) Rules of the Debate

(00:02:58) Peter Martin MLA, First Prop

(00:10:23) Hugh Child, First Opp

(00:18:01) Luke Collins, Second Prop

(00:25:15) Nihal Bhatt, Second Opp

(00:32:53) Ashyka Kaur, Third Prop

(00:39:45) James Tourish, Third Opp

(00:47:08) Tom McCormack, Fourth Prop

(00:54:21) Luke Coyle, Fourth Opp

(01:02:33) Questions from the House

(01:10:44) The Vote

(01:12:07) Closing Remarks

(01:13:20) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!


Friday, 3 October 2025

This House Believes Love Is Blind

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The third ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Love Is Blind".


Speaking for the Proposition were Emma Jane CulletonWilliam Browne, and Beth Lynam, and speaking for the Opposition were Rea ThienElizabeth Noble, and Marc Ghaly.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:27) President's Questions

(00:05:57) Private Members’ Business

(00:13:36) Minutes

(00:23:36) Rules of the Debate

(00:25:38) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:26:55) Emma Jane Culleton, First Prop

(00:32:57) Rea Thien, First Opp

(00:40:26) William Browne, Second Prop

(00:48:07) Elizabeth Noble, Second Opp

(00:55:53) Beth Lynam, Third Prop

(01:03:26) Marc Ghaly, Third Opp

(01:10:33) Questions from the House

(01:17:02) The Vote

(01:18:34) Announcements

(01:24:48) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Thursday, 2 October 2025

This House Believes Degrees Are Overrated

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The second ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Degrees Are Overrated".


Speaking for the Proposition were Ryan Hoey, Nihal Bhatt, Luke Coyle, and Jack Steele, and speaking for the Opposition were Jacob Bain, Rosa Dullaghan, Leon Mewse, and Ella McMullin.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:00:56) President's Questions

(00:05:48) Private Members’ Business

(00:15:06) Minutes

(00:24:59) Rules of the Debate

(00:26:46) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:28:17) Ryan Hoey, First Prop

(00:36:21) Jacob Bain, First Opp

(00:44:07) Nihal Bhatt, Second Prop

(00:51:09) Rosa Dullaghan, Second Opp

(00:58:26) Luke Coyle, Third Prop

(01:06:16) Leon Mewse, Third Opp

(01:13:01) Jack Steele, Fourth Prop

(01:20:35) Ella McMullin, Fourth Opp

(01:28:01) Questions from the House

(01:44:41) The Vote

(01:46:29) Announcements

(01:54:57) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Monday, 22 September 2025

This House Believes Our Brains Have Rotted

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The first ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Our Brains Have Rotted".


Speaking for the Proposition were Beth Lynam, Nihal Bhatt, and Rosa Ivory, and speaking for the Opposition were Luke Coyle, Mikayla Williams, and Henry O'Riordan.


Timestamps as follows:


(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:36) President's Questions

(00:06:09) Private Members’ Business

(00:11:28) Minutes

(00:21:11) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:22:28) Rules of the Debate

(00:23:53) Beth Lynam, First Prop

(00:31:37) Luke Coyle, First Opp

(00:39:17) Nihal Bhatt, Second Prop

(00:46:04) Mikayla Williams, Second Opp

(00:53:28) Rosa Ivory, Third Prop

(01:01:17) Henry O'Riordan, Third Opp

(01:09:33) Questions from the House

(01:19:29) The Vote

(01:21:13) Announcements

(01:35:56) Meeting adjourned!


Thanks for listening!

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

LitTalk: In Conversation With Diona Doherty

On Tuesday, 13th May 2025, at 19:00, 0G/074 in the Lanyon Building hosted the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society's sixth LitTalk of the 176th Session. The event featured Diona Doherty, Northern Irish comedian and actor.

During the event, attendees had the chance to listen to an interview with Ms. Doherty conducted by Jess Donohue, On-Air Deputy Head of The Scoop at Queen's Radio. Following the discussion, participants were given the opportunity to pose questions to Ms. Doherty.

Thanks for listening!

175th Anniversary Alumni Reunion Bonus Content

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! A special binus recording of a gathering that occured during the one hundred and seventy-sixth session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society!

The House convened on Saturday the tenth of May 2025 as part of the 175th Anniversary Reunion Dinner festivities to observe a panel discussion on the past, present, and future of the Society! This recording documents what followed that panel and concluded the evening - toasts, many expressions of gratitude, and much drunken rambling!

Thanks for listening!

175th Anniversary Alumni Reunion Panel

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! A special recording of a gathering that occured during the one hundred and seventy-sixth session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society!

The House convened on Saturday the tenth of May 2025 as part of the 175th Anniversary Reunion Dinner festivities to observe a panel discussion on the past, present, and future of the Society! The panel was hosted by Secretary of the Society Trust Ryan Hoey, and featured Eternal Leader, Refounder of the Society, and President of the 163rd Session Paul Francis Shannon; Chair of the Society Trust, former Pro Vice Chancellor of QUB, and Professor-Emeritus of Education Tony Gallagher; and Outreach Officer of the 170th Session, Secretary of the 171st Session, former Vice President Campaigns and Engagement of QUBSU, and former NUS-USI President Chloe Ferguson.

Thanks for listening!