It's not as if students unions don't have enough to do, what with evil landlords, undergraduate poverty and backsliding college authorities, but they insist on throwing huge parties also.

As reported last week, ITs in Cork, Limerick and Tralee have banded together to throw what they say will be the biggest event of the year. They have competition: DIT students' union will stage what it says will be the biggest single college event ever held in Ireland. The State's largest students' union is holding its Rag Ball in Dublin's Point Theatre. With famous DJs, cover bands, exotic dancers, fire eaters and jugglers. "It promises to be a night to remember," it says here.

Both this event and the one in Millstreet, Co Cork, hope to attract more than 6,000 students. This is the DIT's third year with the Rag Ball in the Point. On Thursday night, cover band Achtung Baby and Irish band Stand will take the stage before DJ Darren Stokes, from Tin Tin Out, DJ Andy Mason, from Clockwork Orange, and finally the World Top 5 DJ Tall Paul.

Another highlight of the night will be the attempt to break the world record for the most couples kissing at the one time in the one place. The current record stands at 1,300 and DISTU hopes to double this on Thursday night.

All profits from the night will go to the two charities decided by DITSU council - Sightsavers International and the National Council for the Blind. The president of DIT students' union, Sarah McGovern, says: "Many other colleges have talked about an event of this size and some have tried to hold one. However, DIT remains the only students' union to succeed."