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Trinity College Dublin

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Template:IrishUniInfoBox The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin or more commonly Trinity College, Dublin was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Ireland's oldest university. Trinity is located on College Green in Dublin, opposite the former Irish Houses of Parliament (now a branch of the Bank of Ireland). The campus occupies 47 acres (190,000 m²), with many attractive buildings, both old and new, centred around large courts and two playing fields.

The college and university are effectively one, and as such are often referred to collectively as the University of Dublin, Trinity College. The main exception to this is the conferring of degrees; the college provides all the programmes and academic staff are members of it, but the university confers the degree.

History

File:Arms of Trinity College, Dublin.png
Arms of the College

Trinity was founded by a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. The Corporation of Dublin granted the new university the lands of All Hallows monastery, a mile to the south east of the city walls. Trinity is today in the very centre of Dublin, as the city has moved eastwards.

During its early life, Trinity was a university exclusively for the Protestant ascendency class of Dublin. Following the first steps of Catholic Emancipation, Roman Catholics were first admitted in 1793 (prior to Cambridge and Oxford, upon which Trinity was modelled). In 1873 all religious tests were abolished, except for Divinity. The Roman Catholic Church had a policy until 1970 under the Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid of excommunication for Catholics who took a place, although they could receive a special dispensation.

File:Arms of the University of Dublin.png
Arms of the University

Women were admitted to Trinity for the first time in 1904, thus making it the first ancient university in Ireland or Britain to do so. The first woman professor was appointed in 1934.

A more detailed history: History of Trinity College (Trinity Website).

Mergers

Trinity has been subject to several proposed mergers.

One of the first proposals was in 1907 when the Chief Secretary for Ireland proposed the reconsitution of the University of Dublin. Dublin University Defence Committee was created and was successful in preventing any change to the status-quo, additionally the failure of the Catholic bishops to support the idea ensured its failure among the Catholic population. Chief among the concerns of the bishops was the remains of the Catholic University of Ireland which would become subsumed into a new university which on account of Trinity would be part Anglican. Ultimately this episode led to the creation of the National University of Ireland.

In the late 1960s there was a proposal for University College, Dublin of the National University of Ireland to become a constituent college of a newly reconstituted University of Dublin. This plan, suggested by Brian Lenihan and Donagh O'Malley, was dropped after mass opposition by Trinity students.

Since 1975 the colleges which now form Dublin Institute of Technology had their degrees conferred by the University of Dublin, this situation continued until 1998 and a merger was considered by the institute, but never seriously by the university.

Sister Colleges

Trinity has two sister colleges:

Status

The university is regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Ireland and is consistently the highest ranked university on world-wide metrics in the country, usually within the top 100 universities globally. The University of Dublin, of which Trinity is the sole constituent college, claims sisterhood with Oxbridge, although for British students Trinity has traditionally been the destination for high-minded applicants who failed to gain entrance to the two most prestigious British universities.

In recent times, and since the 1990s especially, Trinity has started to invest heavily in research with funding particularly from public sources, although in comparison to internationally rated institutions, some scholars claim that the strong reputation of the university is poorly served by its relatively low research funding.

Academic

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Trinity College, Dublin, West wing

Undergraduate students are usually awarded an honours Bachelor of Arts degree after four years, but may receive an ordinary BA after three years' study. Furthermore, bachelors who have had their degrees for at least three years may pay a nominal fee to have the Master in Arts degree conferred on them, similar to that at Oxbridge. This is closer to the Scottish model than the English; most other Irish universities award Bachelor of Arts after three years of study, though other bachelor degrees such as dentistry, engineering, medicine or science usually take longer. The Law School awards the LL.B., the LL.B. (ling. franc.) and the LL.B. (ling. germ.). In recent years, students have been offered a broader range of courses, outside of their major field of study. As a result, the pedagogy has moved a little closer to the North American than the British university model. At postgraduate level, Trinity offers a range of taught and research degrees. In addition to academic degrees the college offers the Postgraduate Diploma.

The Trinity academic year is divided into three terms — Michaelmas term (October, November and December), Hilary term (January, February, March) and Trinity term (March, April, May).

Trinity's five faculties are as follows:

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Social and Human Sciences
  • Engineering and Systems Sciences
  • Health Sciences
  • Natural Sciences

Admission

Irish school-leavers apply for places under the CAO points system, under which students compete for university places on the basis of the points score awarded for their Leaving Certificate results. Some students are admitted through the Trinity Access Programme which aims to facilitate the entry of sectors of society which would otherwise be underrepresented. The admissions office also has procedures for considering mature and international students' applications. There is high demand for many Trinity courses, so competition can be strong.

Awards

Students who enter with exceptional Leaving Certificate results are awarded an Entrance Exhibition.

Senior Freshmen and Junior Sophisters may elect to sit the foundation scholarship examination, which takes places in the break between Hilary and Trinity terms. While the requirements vary between courses, candidates are generally required to sit a combination of papers from their first two years. Where a student obtains a 2.1 in a subject they may be exempted from sitting the annual examination in that subject. If a student achieves a first class honors in the scholarship exam, they may be elected a scholar. The list of new scholars and fellows is announced with great ceremony by the Provost on Trinity Monday. Foundation scholars are part of the body corporate, and all scholars from EU member countries are entitled to free rooms, commons and fees for the duration of their scholarship, which can last up to five years. Foundation scholars from non-EU member countries receive nearly identical benefits, though their fees are merely reduced to those that apply to students from EU member countries.

Years

In Trinity, first year students are called Junior Freshmen; second years, Senior Freshmen; third years, Junior Sophisters and fourth years, Senior Sophisters.

Associations

Academic

The Irish School of Ecumenics became an academic institute within the college on 1 January 2001. Two teaching hospitals are also associated with the college, these are Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght and St. James's Hospital, Dublin.

A number of teaching institutions are involved in jointly taught courses:

In October 2005 the School of Business announced a joint venture with the Irish Management Institute to form a Graduate School of Management incorporating the faculties of both organisations.

Trinity has also been associated in the past with a number of other teaching institutions these include Dublin Institute of Technology, Magee College and Royal Irish Academy of Music.

The Douglas Hyde Gallery, a contemporary art gallery, is located on the main College campus.

Governance

The University is headed, titularly, by the Chancellor, currently former Irish president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson. The College is headed by the Provost, currently John Hegarty. The college is officially incorporated as The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin.

Indeed, the Body Corporate of the College is still headed by the Provost, Fellows & Scholars. The Provost is elected primarily by fellow academic staff, but students' votes have a small weighting. Election to Fellowship and Scholarship is given to academic staff and undergraduates respectively. Fellowship is awarded to academic staff who are seen to have excelled in their field of research. The Foundation Scholarships (informally known as Schols) are awarded to students who get a first class honours grade in the Scholarship examinations held annually at the end of Hilary term. Upon election to Scholarship (usually in their Senior Freshman or second year), Scholars are awarded a wide range of entitlements, including an annual salary, free accommodation on-campus, a meal every weekday at the traditional Commons dinner and exemption from the annual examinations at the end of their second year.

The governance of Trinity was changed in 2000, by the Oireachtas, in legislation introduced by the Board of Trinity: The Trinity College, Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Act, 2000. This was introduced separately from the Universities Act 1997. This states that the Board shall comprise:

  • The Provost, Vice-Provost, Senior Lecturer, Registrar and Bursar;
  • Six Fellows;
  • Five members of the academic staff who are not Fellows at least three of whom must be of a rank not higher than senior lecturer;
  • Two members of the academic staff of the rank of professor;
  • Three members of the non-academic staff;
  • Four students of the College at least one of whom shall be a post-graduate student;
  • One member not being an employee or student of the College chosen by a committee of the Board which shall comprise the Provost and two members of the Board from among nominations made by such organisations as are representative of such business or professional interest as the Board considers appropriate;
  • One member appointed by the Board on the nomination of the Minister for Education and Science following consultation with the Provost.

The fellows, non-fellow academic staff and non-academic staff are elected to serve for a fixed term; the most recent elections took place in 2005 for three- and five-year terms, as a transitional step to more regular terms. The four student members are the President, Education Officer and Welfare Officer of the Students' Union and the president of the Graduate Students' Union (all ex officio) and are elected annually for one-year terms. The vice-provost, senior lecturer, registrar and bursar are 'annual officers' appointed for one-year (renewable) terms by the Provost.

Location

Trinity is an unusual university as it is centred in a capital city, but still retains a strong campus atmosphere. This is in large part due to the compact design of the campus: the main buildings look inwards, and there are a small number of public gates. Student numbers increased during the 1980s and 1990s, with total enrolment more than doubling in size, and leading to pressure on resources. Many students are housed on campus, or in Trinity Hall in Dartry, four kilometers to the south of the city campus, but large numbers secure accommodation external to the university. Foreign and exchange students are given priority when campus and Trinity Hall places are allocated. Trinity Hall houses one thousand students, of whom the majority are first years. Postgraduates, international students and other continuing students also have rooms there.

In addition to the superb city centre campus, Trinity also incorporates the Faculty of Health Sciences buildings located in St. James's Teaching Hospital and the Adelaide and Meath incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght (AMNCH). Phases 2 and 3 of the Trinity Centre in St James's Hospital have been recently completed and incorporate additional teaching rooms as well as the Institute of Molecular Medicine and John Durkan Leukaemia Institute.

A recent addition to the architectural uniqueness of Trinity College Dublin is the new School of Nursing and Midwifery on D'Olier Street. This building, the former Bord Gáis headquarters, combines mock tudor and art deco styles in a unique combination.

Research and Innovation

Trinity College is the most productive internationally recognised research centre in Ireland. The University operates an Innovation Centre which fosters academic innovation and consultancy, provides patenting advice and research information and facilitates the establishment and operation of industrial laboratories and campus companies.

In 1999 the University purchased an Enterprise Centre on Pearse Street, seven minutes walk from the on-campus Innovation Centre. The site has over 200,000 square feet (19,000 m²) of built space and contains a protected building, the Tower, which currently houses a Craft Centre. The Trinity Enterprise Centre will house companies drawn from the University research sector in Dublin.

Multi-disciplinary research

Programmes in advanced technology

Campus industrial laboratories

Current and former campus companies

Student Activities

Clubs

Trinity College has 49 sports clubs that are affiliated to DUCAC (Dublin University Central Athletic Club). There is a very strong sporting tradition with Trinity, however in recent years sporting prowess has diminished somewhat with most students engaging in sport for recreational purposes rather than for competitive reasons. DUCAC is made up of five democratically elected committees who oversee the development of sport in the college: the Executive Committee who are responsible for all activities, the Captains' Committee who represent the 49 club captains and award pinks, the Pavilion Bar Committee who run the private members' bar, the Pavilion Members Committee and the Sports Facilities Committee. The oldest clubs include the Dublin University Cricket Club (1835) and Dublin University Boat Club (1836). Dublin University Football Club,[1] which plays Rugby football, was founded in 1854 and is the world's oldest documented "football club". The Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club was founded in 1895. There are several graduate sports clubs that exist separate to DUCAC including the Dublin University Museum Players (cricket) and the Lady Elizabeth Boat Club (rowing).

Publications

Trinity College, Dublin has a very strong tradition of student publications, ranging from the serious to the satirical. Many student publications are administered by the Dublin University Publications Committee (usually known as 'Pubs') who maintain and administer the Publications room (located in House 6) and all the associated equipment needed to publish its newpapers and magazines.

Trinity News, which won the Newspaper of the Year Award at the National Student Media Awards earlier this year, has been in circulation since 1947 and is currently published on a fortnightly basis. Sections include News, National Review, International Review, Features, Film, Music, Film, Food and Drink, SU & Societies, Gaeilge, Science, Sports Features and Sports (amongst others).

Magazines currently in publication include Piranha (satirical "Private Eye" type satire), the generalist Miscellany, and the arts orientated Icarus, one of Ireland's oldest magazines. Other active publications include the Student Economic Review which is a journal produced and organised independently by students of Economics, the Law Review and the Medical Review. Some older titles currently not in publication include Trinity Intellectual Times, Harlot, Evoke and Alternate.

A rival on-campus student newspaper, the University Record, which exists separate to the Publications Committee is published every three weeks. The University Record, whilst independent of Pubs, is the voice of the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union and is edited by the Deputy President. Many of the contributors are drawn from the ranks of class reps.

Notable editors and contributors gone-by of student publications include Quentin Letts (Piranha) of the Daily Telegraph, Mark Little (Trinity News) of RTE, Ken Early and Ger Gilroy of Newstalk 106/The Village, Michael O'Doherty (Piranha) of New York Dog, John Maher (Piranha), news editor with the Irish Times, Eibhir Mulqueen (Trinity News), Irish Times journalist, Ed O'Loughlin (Trinity News), journalist with the Farmer's Journal, Bruce Arnold, author and journalist, Shane Ross, Senator and journalist, Ted Harding of the Sunday Business Post, Sara Morris (Trinity News) formerly spokeswoman for Tesco Ireland, Jocelyn Clarke (Piranha), arts commentator in RTE and former Abbey Theatre board member, Jack Mulcahy (Trinity Truth), now runs an online dating service, Martin Thomas (Rumour) is a nightclub promoter in Dublin, Mark O'Connell (Miscellany) formerly of the Sunday Business Post, crime novelist John Connolly, and Tomás Clancy (Icarus) who is the wine critic for the Sunday Tribune.

Societies

Trinity College has a vibrant student life with 96 societies. Student Societies operate under the aegis of the Dublin University Central Societies Committee which is composed of the Treasurers of each of the Societies within the College. Society size varies enormously, large societies having in the region of 1500 members, smaller groups may have only 40-50 members. The larger Societies include: the two debating societies situated in the Graduates' Memorial Building (GMB): the College Historical Society (founded 1770) more commonly known as "The Hist" and the University Philosophical Society (Trinity College, Dublin) (founded 1853), more commonly known as "The Phil"; the Vincent de Paul society, which is free to join and organises a large number of activities in the local community; and, Dublin University Players which is one of the most prolific drama socities in Ireland, hosting up to 50 shows and events a year in its own theatre in the Samuel Beckett Centre. Famous ex-members of Players include the actress and writer Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle from Father Ted).

Further information about Trinity College's Student Societies can be found on www.csc.tcd.ie.

The Graduate Students' Union

The Graduate Students' Union's primary role is to provide a recognised representative channel between postgraduates and the University and College authorities. The GSU president is an ex-offico member of the College Board. The Graduate Students' Union publish the "Journal of Postgraduate Research" on an annual basis.

The Students' Union

The Students' Union's primary role is to provide a recognised representative channel between undergraduates and the University and College authorities. The Executive, the Finance and Services Committee and Sabbatical Officers manage the business and affairs of the Union. The Sabbatical Officers are: The President, Deputy President/Publicity & Publications officer, Welfare Officer, Education Officer and Entertainments Officer and are elected on an annual basis by those undergraduate students who have joined the Students' Union. The SU President, Welfare Officer and Education Officer are ex-officio members of the College Board.

The Library

The Book of Kells is the most famous of the volumes in the Trinity College Library. Shown here is the Madonna and Child from Kells (folio 7v).

The Library of Trinity College is the largest research library in Ireland. As a deposit library, it is entitled legally to a copy of every book published in Britain and Ireland, and contains 4.25 million books. The Book of Kells, the Library's most famous book, can be seen in the Long Room of the old Library. There are 5 libraries for general student use: the Berkeley, the Ussher, the Lecky, the Hamilton and the John Stearne located in St. James's Hospital. In addition, there is another library in the Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght which students may use.

It was widely reported that the visual appearance of the Jedi Archives in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is inspired by the Long Room due to the striking resemblance between the two. The Long Room is an area of the library that is available to see on the Book of Kells tour. There were reports that Trinity considered legal action but the matter was eventually dropped.

See also

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