The Front Bench Club
HALF, yes HALF, the cabinet in Ireland’s first independent government were UCD alumni – 90 years on, and half the ministers in the current DÁil are UCD alumni. What is it about UCD and politicians? Bridget Hourican examines the historical significance of the University’s involvement in the foundation of the State, the establishment of student branches of the political parties in the 1950s, the protest marches and radical chic of the 1960s, the tradition of student electioneering and debating that continues today … As the newest recruits to the Dáil hit their stride after the summer recess, we say move over, Minister, there’s room on that bench for a few more ...

UCD churns out politicians the way North Kerry churns out writers and Kenya churns out long-distance runners. Half of our Taoisigh, including Brian Cowen, are UCD graduates. Of the ministers in the current Dáil, more than half attended UCD, while another, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources, ran his famous bike shop out of Belfield. So what is it about UCD that fosters politicians? The historical legacy? The hard-fought student elections? The debating clubs? The stirrings of social conscience? The streak of radicalism? The Old Boys’ Network? The diversity of experience? The confidence-boosting?


YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THIS STORY IN THE 2009/2010 ISSUE OF UCD Connections Magazine, OUT NOW
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