It's been called a seminal moment in Irish rock culture. On 21 October 1977, British punk band The Clash played two 35-minute sets at the Trinity Ball. Ahead of a symposium on Saturday, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the gig, some people who were there in 1977, returned to the venue – Trinity's grand, 18th-century Examinations Hall – where they met Morning Ireland's Education Correspondent, Emma O'Kelly. Katy McGuinness, then 15 and still at school, was there:
"I'm not sure that we told our parents where we were going and we certainly didn't show them what we were wearing."
Then Trinity Students' Union president, now RTÉ Radio producer, Ian Wilson, helped organise the gig. "Punk was an affront to all decent values," he told Emma. "It stood everything on its head." In 1977 punk music was at its height. Following the outrage over the Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen, many punk gigs had been stopped in the UK and The Clash's show in Belfast the night before the Trinity Ball had been cancelled by the authorities, leading to riots.
"It wasn't until the mini-riot in Belfast the night before that it suddenly dawned on the College authorities big time what was going to happen and at that stage, they went into panic."
John Fisher had been selling badges outside the Examinations Hall and wanted somewhere to put his badge boards for the duration of the gig. He went to the stage door, hoping that someone might let him stash his boards inside. He knocked on the door. The door opened:
"Suddenly it's Joe Strummer standing there, with the rest of the band beside him."
The band invited John to leave his badge boards backstage, grab a beer and watch the gig. He didn't need to be asked twice.
Trinity's symposium on Saturday takes place in the Examinations Hall where The Clash performed and it's open to all. It's organised by Chris Heaney.
"The place we're standing now which is kind of the heart of the institution and the establishment. To have something as anti-establishment as a Clash, as a punk gig – bands even like U2, famously Bono called it Year Zero. This gig, it was a realignment."
And the music, 40 years ago? Memories are hazy. People were delighted to be there and there was a feeling even at the time that they were part of something special.
The Year Zero: The Clash at Trinity College Dublin symposium takes place this Saturday.
You can listen back to Emma O'Kelly's report for Morning Ireland here.