Trinity College in Dublin exemplifies the spirit of an outstanding academic institution, one where eminent literary minds were nurtured into creating classics which society still marvels over today. This literary tradition did not arise instantaneously, since hundreds of years and thousands of scholars made this university into what it is in the twenty-first century. Trinity College came about in 1592 with the Queen's permission, and in 1594, old monasteries were renovated into buildings for higher learning. In fact, the fascinating part of the story is that students and professors alike physically built Trinity, something unheard of in today's world of construction companies and interior designers. Land and estate donations patronized the new college thus higher academia in Ireland was established. However, two civil wars followed suit in the seventeenth century thus expelling students and professors, finally to make a comeback in the eighteenth century with the new library, dining hall and printing house. The feeling of a legitimate university had been born. Professors and administrators, more commonly known as Fellows, made their scholars adhere to strict policies such as quarterly examinations with prizes, a contemporary curriculum and a fellowship examination. All of this hard work and dedication produced distinguished graduates such as Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. By the nineteenth century, more radical changes needed to replace out-of-date practices thus the new honors system was born, giving students the option of specializing in a field instead of graduating with a B.A. in liberal arts. From this point on, schools were founded; for example, The Engineering School in 1842, The Law School and The Medical School. The twentieth century took giant leaps as the university finally admitted women in 1904, even adding a female residence hall. The Great War (1914-18) disturbed Trinity's chances for government endowment, and it was not until 1947 the government financially assisted the university.
Today a self-guided walking tour provides visitors with paramount insights to the university's extensive past. The Campanile is the famed arched gateway, which dates back to the 1800s and represents the beginnings of Trinity. The beautiful dining hall stands firmly with its gray stone exterior, while the interior's restoration has defeated two structural collapses and one fire. Perhaps one of the most breathtaking literary sites is the Long Room, located near the Book of Kells. In the central part of the Old Library, the Long Room has a celing which resembles a Norweigan Viking ship--spanning the length of 213 feet. The shelves contain over 200,000 antiquated books, sitting patiently for over 250 years. However, the most popular site on campus is the legendary Book of Kells, which contains the four gospels in Latin, written circa 800 A.D. The 680 pages are decorated exquisitely, using intricate detail and design. Half a million people flock to Trinity yearly to view the two displayed volumes. The artistry manifests in complex scenes such as the Virgin and Child, the Arrest of Christ and the Temptation. The beauty of the artwork stems from the luminescent golds and blood reds mixed with ornate caligraphy. For instance, one scene incorporates thousands of fine components thus resulting in hours of time spent examining only one picture. The Book itself has quite an interesting history of surfacing throughout the centuries. It was believed to have been created for a saint in the monastery of Iona, laying low for many years, however, the Book popped up again in the twelfth century, where a written account has been recorded. Finally in the seventeenth century, the Archbishop handed the Book of Kells over to Trinity thereby cementing its place in Irish literary and art history.
After a lengthy day of touring, a night of entertainment can prove to be relaxing. Also on hand at Trinity is the Samuel Beckett Theatre. Beckett, the playwright best known for Waiting for Godot, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969. Growing up in a suburb of Dublin, the writer seemed to have everything at his disposal since his family was quite well-off. He flourished in his studies, and in the game of cricket, therefore, earning him the title of sportsman as well as author. Attending Trinity from 1923-27, he took up courses in English, Italian and French, the language he felt best expressed his inner thoughts. Today in the Samuel Beckett Theatre many performances delight audiences from all over the world. Distingushed theatre and dance companies come from Europe, Japan, the United States and, of course, Ireland. The famous Dublin Fringe Festival is held here every September. The current performance is "The Corn Exchange" which is on an extended run due to popular audience demand. Most shows begin at 7.30pm and ticket prices run around 25 pounds. Events for spring and summer 2007 are not yet listed on the website, therefore, it is best to check before departing on the tour.
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