Student Special: In Da Club

Not only are college clubs and societies useful for ‘real world’ stuff, such as learning so-called life skills and beefing up your CV, they are also great for making friends and discovering new interests. To give you a taste of what to expect, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best. Get involved with this lot and you won’t regret it! But don't forget to visit the library every now and then...

UCD - Music Society
Whether you’re into hardcore rap battles or mellow singsongs, UCD’s Music Society has something for everyone. Known for their choir and popular lunchtime classical recitals, they also run regular open mic nights in the Global Lounge as well as gigs in Captain Americas. If you’re not yet brave enough to perform one of your own numbers, take to the stage at one of their karaoke nights and blow everyone away with your best Bruce Springsteen tribute.'Glory Days' indeed.

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick - Drama Society
Fancy yourself as the next big thing on Broadway? This could be your chance to show everyone your name deserves to be up in lights. Mary Immaculate’s Drama Society has won a number of awards for their annual musicals, the most recent a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. Don’t worry if the spotlight isn’t for you: the Drama Society needs all hands on deck, for everything from set design to props and stagehands. With a host of Irish actors including Cillian Murphy and Love / Hate’s Killian Scott starting out in their college’s drama societies, this could be your big chance to join the 'business of show'.

University of Limerick - International Society
Despite being known as the land of a thousand welcomes, it can sometimes be difficult for foreign students to become fully integrated into Irish society, culture and general student life. UL's International Society is aimed at breaking down the boundaries between Irish students and their international counterparts and it hosts movie nights and weekly parties, as well as trips around Ireland on a budget. It's a great way of getting to know people from other countries as well as getting to see a bit more of your own!

Trinity - Knitting Society
It’s not often you find a group of students eagerly bringing their knitting needles to college. But that is exactly what's happening - thanks to Knit Soc, Trinity College’s self-proclaimed cosiest, cuddliest society. With weekly ‘stich’n’bitch’ sessions, this award-winning soc is as an alcohol-free way of socialising. They also host picnics (pic-knits) which, quite frankly, sound like a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

UCC - Cancer Society
Throughout 2014 the society raised more than €45,000 for various cancer charities. Their biggest event is the annual 24-hour Relay For Life, a walking relay where students, staff and friends are sponsored to walk around a track for 24 hours, accompanied by live music and DJ sets. Shave or Dye and Movember are also big on the Cancer Soc calendar. We have it on good authority that their nights out are amongst the best UCC has to offer.

DCU - RAG Society
Another one of Ireland’s most charitable societies, and one of DCU’s most popular, is the award winning RAG (Raising and Giving) Society. Their brilliantly organised events include the Rag Rumble, a white-collar boxing tournament that raised more than €5,000 in 2014, as well as their 24-Hour Sleep Out in conjunction with the St Vincent De Paul Society. One of their most highly anticipated events is the annual ‘underwear mile’ where students, yep you guessed it, run a mile around campus in their undercrackers. Having raised over €1,000 in 2013 alone, it is definitely a highlight of the RAG Society calendar.

NUIG - Astronomy Society
Winner of Best New Society in 2014, they host a series of talks ranging from beginner level to those pitched at physics students throughout the year. The aim is to increase the general awareness and understanding of astronomy. Also hosting documentary screenings and observation nights with their own telescopes and mini observatory, Astronomy Soc is definitely one for all you avid stargazers out there.

UCD - Literary & Historical Society
While the name may not suggest a wild night out, UCD’s Literary and Historical Society is extremely popular. Founded in 1894, it is one of Ireland’s longest running socs (though not as old as the equally venerable Philosoph in UCC). L&H, as it’s commonly known, hosts weekly debates as well as putting on talks with an impressive catalogue of guests. Brandon Stanton, creator of the massively popular Facebook page Humans of New York, and YouTube personality Jenna Marbles were among the speakers L&H played host to in 2014. Previous speakers have included John Hume, Noam Chomsky and JK Rowling.

DCU - Harry Potter Society
Speaking of JK Rowling, DCU’s Harry Potter Society is all kinds of magical. It hosts table quizzes, annual Halloween Pumpkin Carving and the Christmas Yule Ball, as well as Wand Workshops and Patronus Photoshop tutorials. That’s without even mentioning their Quidditch team, the DCU Dementors, who are reigning champions at the Quidditch intervarsities (yes that is a real thing). Played with 'standard' Quidditch rules, it’s pretty much the exact same as when Harry and the gang play but without the flying broomsticks of course.

DBS - Radio Society
“Living, loving and making radio” since 2010, Radio DBS opens it’s doors to anyone – from ambitious young journalists to those who want to pitch in behind the scenes. So whether you’re into sport, music or documentaries, there’s a place for you at Radio DBS. In their own words, you’ll be joining “one big happy family”.