UCD launches publication to mark 150 years of L&H

A book commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Literary & Historical Society at University College Dublin will be launched at Belfield tomorrow.

The president of UCD, Hugh Brady, will officially present The Literary and Historical Society 1855-2005, edited by barrister and former auditor of the society Frank Callanan, at O'Reilly Hall.

More than 30 former auditors and up to 350 former members of the society will attend a gala dinner accompanying the launch.

A reprint of the Centenary History of the L&H 1855-1955, edited by the late James Meenan, another former auditor, is also being published - with a special introduction by Charles Lysaght - to mark the anniversary.

Among the former members and auditors due to contribute to the new publication are: Maeve Binchy, Kevin Myers, Hugh O'Flaherty, Henry Kelly, Adrian Hardiman, Michael McDowell, Peter Smithwick and Cecily Kelleher. The final list of contributors, however, had yet to be announced yesterday.

The book, which was three years in the making, forms the highlight of the society's anniversary celebrations. Speakers visiting Belfield for debates during the anniversary year included Jessie Jackson, Roger Moore, Gary Lineker, George Galloway, Jeffrey Archer, John Simpson and TK Whitaker.

For further details on the two publications, each of which costs €35, contact the auditor of the L&H, Frank Kennedy, at auditor@literaryandhistorical.com; or see www.landh150.com