We took a tour with a Trinity College student who had just finished his course work. The student guides were wearing traditional black scholars robes that were worn until the 1970s.
He told us about college life and the history of the school.
The College currently has 17,000 students but can only house 800 on campus. One of the oldest buildings on campus now houses students, but it is not a favorite among the student body for several reasons:
- To get to the showers you have to exit the building and wait outdoors to gain access to the shower area!
- It’s a haunted building. Apparently in the 1700’s there was a shootout between a rifle- wielding math professor and his pistol wielding students. The professor shot at the students from his 1st story window. When the smoke cleared the professor had been shot and fallen to his death on the cobblestones below. Because there was no written rule addressing student use of firearms against a professor at the college, the students were not expelled. It is said the professor has haunted the hallways ever since.
One of the biggest perks at Trinity College goes to the smartest students: At the end of the second year, there is an optional, extremely challenging exam for which students may choose to sit. Those who pass this “Scholars” tests with top scores are allowed to pursue their studies for free… not only during their undergraduate years, but even for future Masters and PhDs. Essentially, they could be a student for their whole life!
The 70+ student “Scholars” are provided free on-campus housing. Further, they are allowed to join the faculty, staff and graduate students for an free evening “Commons” meal. This is a three course meal and includes a pint of Guinness. This daily meal is a huge perk!
The Book of Kells
Many people come to Trinity College to see the famous “Book of Kells.” You may remember that we first discussed this manuscript when we spent a week on the Island of Iona in Scotland.
When the Vikings attacked the monks on Iona, they not only lost their lives but their precious religious relics. In order to protect their most sacred artwork, the illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, they sent it to a sister monetary in Kells, Ireland. The monks moved from Iona to Kells after 806 AD, when Iona was attached by Vikings, and completed the manuscript there. It was later moved to Dublin and finally given to Trinity College in 1661.
In the exhibition we learned about how vellum, or animal skins, were prepared to be the pages for the manuscripts. We also learned about the pigments they used from all over the world to produce a wide range of colors.
Trinity College Library
We also visited the Trinity College “old” Library which was built between 1712 and 1732.
The famous “long room” reminded us of something out of Harry Potter. It gets its name because it is 65 meters long and houses over 200,000 books in two stories.
The harp on display is the oldest to survive in Ireland and is made of oak, willow and brass strings. We were reminded that the harp is Ireland’s national symbol, visible on Euros produced in Ireland and as the symbol of Dublin’s famous Guinness Beer.
Now that is what I call a LIBRARY. Amazing scale and beauty!!!