That old reprobate Joseph Heller, creator of Yossarian and Major Major Major, is among the speakers lined up for this year's session of TCD's Historical Society. Heller is still best known for his anti-war satirical novel, Catch 22, and once admitted that he hadn't written anything better since. But then, he added, neither has anyone else.

He joins an impressive line-up that includes actor Jeremy Irons (whose starring role in Adrian Lyne's Lolita remains unseen due to the film's failure to find a US distributor) and Sir Bernard Ingham, Margaret Thatcher's press secretary during the Iron Lady's Reign of Terror. Roy - now Lord - Hattersley and Patrick - now also Lord - Mayhew are also scheduled to speak, as are actor John Hurt and Melvyn Bragg, South Bank Show presenter and author of vaguely wish-fulfillment "old bloke fantasises about young female" novels. Incidentally, Albert Reynolds is also due to speak, although it's not clear on what exactly: That this House would save its pennies and let the pounds take care of themselves, perhaps? Or how about That this House would not turn its back on Bertie Ahern? We can only wait and see . . .