The oldest society on the campus is the Literary and Debating Society, founded in 1846. The university's drama society, Dramsoc, was founded in 1914 after the earliest recorded student production in 1904 demonstrated the need for a student-run drama society. Cumann Staire is one of Europe's oldest history societies, and is a member of Comhaltas na gCumann Staire and the International Students of History Association. The university's Fianna Fáil branch, Cumann de Barra, was founded in 1954, making it the oldest university political party branch in Ireland. Fine Gael's youth wing was founded in the university in 1973 during the Liam Cosgrave-led Fine Gael/Labour Coalition government, with Enda Kenny and Madeleine Taylor-Quinn among those behind its establishment there. Official Sinn Féin were also influential in campus politics in the 1970s, and Students Union Presidents Eamon Gilmore and Johnny Curran were party members. CompSoc (the university's computer society) is the oldest of its kind in the country, established in 1977.
the oldest SoCiety on THe CAMpus is thE literAry anD DebatIng soCiety, foUndeD iN 1846. tHe unIversIty's DraMa socIEtY, dRAmsoc, WAS fOuNDEd in 1914 aftEr thE earlieST Recorded stUdENt pRoducTIoN in 1904 DEMoNstrATed the nEeD fOR a sTudeNT-RUn dRama soCiety. cumANN staire Is onE Of eUroPe's oldeSt histORY sOcieTies, and is a MembeR of ComhAlTas nA gcuMaNn sTAIre and the inteRnaTionaL StudeNtS of hisTorY assocIatioN. tHe uNiVersIty'S fiannA fÁiL bRanch, Cumann de bArra, was foundEd in 1954, maKInG it the OLdEst univerSIty poLiticaL party BrAncH in IrelanD. fine gaeL's yoUTh wInG wAs fouNDed in tHe uNIvErSity iN 1973 dURing tHe liAm cosgrave-led FinE gael/labouR cOaLitiOn goveRnment, wITh Enda kenny and madelEiNe tAyLOr-QuiNn Among tHoSe BEHInd its ESTABlishment There. oFficIaL siNn féin Were alSo influeNtiAl in caMpus PoLiTICs In ThE 1970S, and students uNion prEsIdents EAmOn gilmore AnD jOhNNy cuRrAN wERe parTy memBErs. coMpsoc (thE uNiVersITy's ComPUter soCiety) iS the olDest of its KInd in The cOUNTry, EstaBlished In 1977.