FILM:JOHN C REILLY, the Hollywood actor who co-stars with Will Ferrell in the comedy Step Brothers, is the latest in a long line of well-known people to come to Ireland as guest speaker at Trinity College's Philosophical Society. He will appear at 4pm next Sunday, August 24th.
Reilly joins a pantheon of guest speakers at "the Phil", including author Salman Rushdie, actor Jeremy Irons, US House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich, singer Bono, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, journalist Charlie Bird, historian Niall Ferguson and, somewhat controversially, porn star Ron Jeremy.
The society's secretary Barry Devlin says it invites people whom it feels have contributed to society in some form, and whom the student body would be interested in listening to.
All guests speak for between seven to 10 minutes, and are not allowed to bring pictures, pamphlets or presentations. After the last minute of a guest's speech any member of the audience can stand up, say "point of information" and make a comment or ask a question. The guest speakers can then choose whether or not to respond.
No fee is paid to the invited guest speakers, says Mr Devlin. If a fee is requested it is promptly refused. The speakers agree to travel to Trinity College solely for the honour of speaking at the society. They are, however, collected at the airport and given a meal in TCD's Commons. It's all about the experience, he says.
Whether Reilly - one of cinema's most versatile if under-appreciated character actors, and a man with an unruly mop of curly hair that references his Irish background - will make it to The Stag's Head, an après-society haunt, is open to, well, debate.
Former well-known members of the Phil Soc include Dean Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and Mary Harney.
Step Brotherswill be in cinemas from August 29th
