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Trinity College Dublin
Category: Education Colleges & Universities Colleges & Universities [Edit]
College GreenDublin 2
(01) 8961000
35 reviews for Trinity College Dublin
35 reviews in English
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Review from Ben T.
Dublin
11/1/2012
OK caveat, I went to Trinity for my degree so I have a somewhat biased opinion. However I'll try separate my university experience, which was amazing and which I wouldn't change for the world, from the university as a place to wander through.
So some history to begin with! Founded in 1592 Trinity is based on the Oxbridge collegiate system ie. many colleges (St. Johns, Darwin, Fitzwilliam etc. etc.) constitute the university as a whole. In fact there's a Trinity College in Cambridge after which the one in Dublin is named courtesy of the first Provost, or President, who studied in Cambridge as an undergraduate and then paid tribute to his alma mater by naming the one in Dublin as such when it was founded. However they never got round to establishing more colleges which has led to the unusual situation that Trinity is in fact the only college that makes up the University of Dublin. This means that in theory the college and the university are not actually synonymous but for practical purposes Trinity College, Dublin University (University of Dublin, Trinity College officially) all mean the same thing. Most of you probably don't care but don't say you never learned anything here!
You can sometimes forget you're in the middle of the city centre wandering around this place and all its old buildings. It manages to achieve something quite unique in that it is at the same time both spacious and compact and there's lots of little benches and nooks and crannies for you to relax in. I suppose for tourists or those who don't study there the highlights are front square with its cobbles, the front arch (tradition states that students don't walk under it until they graduate) and yes, the Book of Kells.
Finally if you happen to pop by on a Friday between April and early June, especially if the weather's good, then drop by the Pavilion Bar/Cricket pitch! -
Review from Pasquale R.
17/4/2012
By far one of the most beautiful and historic university campuses I have ever seen. It's like Princeton on steroids. I took the walking tour which ended at the Book of Kells (see my review...eh). Such nice architecture and history behind it. I highly recommend this as the walking tour takes less than an hour. The young gentlemen who was our tour guide was very nice, knowledgeable and humorous. A must see.
Listed in: Ireland
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Review from Elizabeth C.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a beautiful college nestled in the middle of Dublin! I went on the walking tour (despite the freezing rain) on 24.04.2012 and our tour guide was fantastic. He will be starting his doctorate in history in about a year and he already has a passion for the subject and made the perfect guide through the campus grounds. I learned a lot about the school, it's history, the motives behind why it was founded and the religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics attending the college when the conflict with Northern Ireland and Ireland was at its peak. Our guide also have a lot of great information about the Book of Kells and the Long Room in the old library so we would have an accurate expectation of what we were about to see. I'm glad I made this part of my trip to Dublin. See the famous Book of Kells and that fantastic Long Room was breathtaking. Many people may just be "meh" about this tour but I think that is from a generation who expects everything to be spectacular and don't appreciate the simple but still beautiful parts of the world. Not everything is pomp and circumstance, and often the humble parts of history can be the most impactful.
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Review from Onur U.
17/11/2011
It was probably a four star experience, but it's a rip off. The book of kells is pretty interesting, but I'm not sure it really requires four rooms of explanation. I get that they want to provide context, but really they were just making the experience longer so they can charge more. The room where the book resides is crowded with people and you can only really look at it for 30 seconds before getting bumped out of the way. And really, it'd be a lot cooler if you could see more than one page at a time.
Redeeming was the incredible long hall with thousands and thousands of books. It's a magnificent room, I wish I could've taken a picture to show my friends.
I'm not sure I can advocate skipping Trinity College for a first time visitor to Dublin, just know that it's not much of an experience for 9 euros. -
Review from Cherryl D.
28/4/2011
My Ratings:
Quantity: 4 - Lots to see
Quality: 5 - Beautiful school and buildings
Price: 4 - Good for tour
Location: 5 - Gorgeous place
Service: 4 - Good
Overall: One of the MUST-SEE places in Dublin. You can't say you've been in Dublin without seeing this place.
My Opinion/Story:
Went here to see the Book of Kells. I didn't know about it until one of my friends mentioned it. Since its so popular, I had to see it. Made a tour one morning and it was an amazing experience. Went to see the college and was impressed at how beautiful the buildings were. The Book of Kells tour was good and they really gave alot of information regarding their famous book. We even got to see a real replica of the book. We also checked out their old library which is really really old. You can smell how old the books were but they really kept it nice and neat. They have headstones of famous people and writers. They even have details of how things were back in then esp of how they kill and torture people... quite interesting and grateful that I'm in this century. -
Review from Kathleen C.
2/12/2010
You may start to notice a trend with my Dublin reviews - I loved my visit!
Trinity College is definitely tops on the list. This is a beautiful location - you might not notice that you're in the middle of the city. I was actually stopped on my walk there and asked for directions...that is, until I started talking and the person asking for directions determined I was not a local due to my American accent!
My first stop was the Book of Kells. It's a must see - beautiful and so interesting.
A visit to Dublin is definitely not complete until you have visited Trinity College! -
Review from Karen F.
25/8/2010
For my 1900th yelp review - I just had to pick a special place.
You must visit Trinity College when you are in Dublin. This college is steeped in history, has magnificent art & architecture and the people are friendly.
And of course, the Book of Kells is housed here.
Bring a camera. The trees on campus are lush and old. -
Review from Eric B.
24/7/2010
Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university" and Ireland's oldest. Originally established outside the city walls of Dublin in the buildings of the dissolved Augustinian monastery of All Hallows, Trinity was set up in part to consolidate the rule of the Tudor monarchy in Ireland, and it was seen as the university of the Protestant Ascendancy for much of its history. However; Roman Catholics had been permitted to enter as early as 1753 and women were first admitted to the college as full members in 1904.
Trinity is now surrounded by Dublin and is located on College Green, opposite the former Irish Houses of Parliament. I enjoyed walking around the extensive property, but the real highlight for me was visiting the Old Library. Here you'll find the Book of Kells and other ancient texts. You'll also find significant collections of manuscripts, maps, and printed music, plus a profound sense of humility amongst all this historical splendor. -
Review from ros C.
Dublin
19/8/2010
Great place to walk around, the buildings are very photogenic. There are two free museums to check out, the Douglas hyde gallery and the Science Gallery. The science gallery hosts very cool interactive exhibtions that change every few months. The Douglas Hyde gallery hosts art exhibitions of contempory art, you never quite know what they will show next.
Don't forget the book of Kells though, I think a trip it visit it is well worth it and the Long room library is quite spectacular. If you make friends with a TCD student they can get up to three people in for free. -
Review from Cory D.
5/11/2010
I'm a student here, and I love it. So much history and beauty. Great location, great people, and great memories!
Wherther it's to visit the Book of kells or just walk around, don't miss it! -
Review from John M.
17/12/2010 2 photos
Note: all my recent vacation in Ireland Yelp reviews will have the same 1st paragraph preamble, for just the review itself skip to the 2nd paragraph.
On a whirlwind 2 week vacation to Ireland, the girlfriend & I tried to see & experience absolutely as much of this incredible land as we could. We did not accomplish every last activity we wished we could have on our rather ambitious itinerary. Nonetheless, we did discover a land of numerous stunning & magical wonders. We did see a land of unending natural beauty. We did learn of a land with a monumentally long history of trials, tragedies & triumphs. We did get to meet many kind, humorous, warm & generous people. Our vacation to Ireland was just 2 weeks, but that was time enough to know this is a land easy to love & a land to be sorely missed.
Our last day in Dublin. Our last day in Ireland. The girlfriend & I were trying to get to as many places as we could that we had missed our 1st time through Dublin.
Taking advantage of our hotel's fantastic location, we walked just a short distance down Dame Street & crossed over to Trinity College. The girlfriend & I had a good look around. What a magnificent campus. Though I can't comment on any of the qualities of an education at Trinity College, the buildings & grounds are certainly much more impressive & historic than my alma mater.
With our time in Dublin dwindling, the girlfriend & I were off to our next stop. Trinity College is one cool school. I'm glad we managed to see it before leaving Ireland.Listed in: Ireland
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Review from Andy H.
10/7/2009
When in Dublin check out Ireland's first university, which was founded way back in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.
The campus is absolutely amazing. I just strolled around on a chilly January afternoon and took in all of the beauty that is Trinity College. The campanile, which looked like the most popular destination to snap a picture is amazing in person.
The Old Library is home to the very popular piece of Irish literature called the "Book of Kells". Make sure to see it on a weekday morning and definitely avoid weekends, as this part of the campus gets very packed with visitors.
The campus is located right in the center of the city and easy to reach by foot. -
Review from Cathal C.
Dublin
29/7/2009
At the beginning of every September, tearful provincial mothers send their beloved offspring up to Dublin in order for them to get themselves an education and take their first intrepid steps into the world of adulthood.
Then, the following June, a certain percentage of these fresh faced students return to Cork or Galway or Westmeath having somehow contracted English accents, much to the bemusement of their parents and the contempt of their contemporaries.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the students I am referring to went to Trinity College, an institution that has been teaching the natives to act like civilised folk since its foundation by Queen Liz (the first one, not the current one). If they're not playing cricket on the lawn, they're taking the side of the the forces of the crown during the Easter Rising.
Trinity, being the most venerable of Ireland's educational institutions, is the most picturesque: all cobblestones and archways. It also has a couple of bona fide tourist attractions to further raise it's stock amongst visitors to our shores: The Book of Kells, and the Long Library. It's quite possible that the Book of Kells could be a subject of arresting interest for tourists, but if you went to primary school in this country, you'd already be very familiar with the whole concept, and you might find it a little underwhelming, as I did when I went to visit with an Australian friend. I mean, you can only see one page at a time. It is a let down.
The Long Library is shit hot, however. Rows and rows upon rows of really old books, most of which were printed when Latin was still the lingua franca amongst the scholars of Europe. Pretty awesome.
For all my derision, it's still nice to sit outside the Pav, drinking a few tinnies of Bavaria and laughing at the cricket players when they start to take it too seriously. -
Review from Jana S.
23/7/2010
Book of Kells: OId Library, TC
Rosetta Stone: British Museum, Bloomington (Legal London)
Magna Carta: British Library
any questions?
Beautiful, historic library....Old would be an apt name.... -
Review from Laura C.
Dublin
28/6/2009 4 photos
First and foremost, a proviso - I went to Trinity.
Secondly, an admission - I went to Trinity in large part because the campus is gorgeous and it has an unequalled history.
Thirdly, a demand - that everyone who comes to Dublin at least walks through this historic and beautiful place.
If it's a (rare) sunny day, sit outside the Pav with a few cans (buy them in the Pav...the profits go to college sports, and the officials get more than a little annoyed if you bring your own), and try to catch a cricket match. Understanding cricket is entirely unnecessary, just pretend to look vaguely interested and clap - politely mind - when the players highfive. If you are there in May or June, watch out for students who are desperately trying to convince themselves that you can study outside...you can't.
Trinity really is a must-see. Historically, it has a central part in Irish history - it boasts a veritable who's who of famous Irish figures amongst its alumni and is one of the oldest universities in the world. The buildings (at least those as far back as the Pav, as any further and you get to the rather less impressive and more modern Hamilton block...evidently the Arts students are more in need of immersion in culture!) are breathtaking, and all are still in use. Be careful walking under the Campanile, as tradition holds that to do so dooms you to failure in your exams.
The best way to see Trinity is to take a student-led tour - full of anecdotes and historical titbits, and led by people who really know the place, they will give you an experience better than anything from a guidebook (look out for Stephen especially!!)
The piéce de résistance is, theoretically, the world-reknowned Book of Kells. However, in all honesty, it is the Long Room Library that shines (and, for any Star Wars buffs, the Jedi Library is based on this very room), and is a must-see.
If you're going to buy merchandise, here's a hint - take a look in the Students' Union shop by the Arch before you look in the gift shop.
Deservedly one of the top attractions in Dublin...just watch out for frazzled students around exam times! -
Review from Alexandra M.
Dublin
21/6/2009 1 photo
Anyone living or visiting Dublin will be familiar with the location of this historic institution, but many are unaware of all the activities that can be done within the walls of the university.
First, you can take a walk around the campus and examine all the buildings, statues and archways. In the summer months, you can get a student-guided tour for 5 Euro.
After wards, you can pay 9 Euro to visit the Book of Kells and peruse the gift shop for overpriced souvenirs. Finally, you can eat lunch at The Buttery, the student cafeteria, and go to the Pav, the student bar, for a drink.
If you want to visit Trinity on the cheap, you can bring your own picnic and eat it watching the TCD cricket team play. -
Review from Erin L.
27/6/2009
Trinity College was founded on March 13th, 1592. Set right in the middle of Dublin this is a great, old, historic university. I t has many classic buildings and monuments and is certainly worth a tour, especially if you are going to see the Book of Kells. We toured it using information from a tour book, but you can get a guided tour through the university.
The Buttery, a cafe on campus, is a good place to have coffee/ tea or lunch. A beautiful place to take a stroll and view wonderful examples of architecture throughout the ages. There are also some interesting sculptures throughout the grounds.
Make sure to visit the Book of Kells. It's just fantastic, the Books are so well preserved and really is a step back in time....well worth the entrance fee. The Book of Kells is really a special artifact of a different world. You have to look closely to see the detail of the illustrations, especially with the low light. There is a detailed display about the materials and methods used to make the book before you get to it.
The Long Room is just a very impressive sight - No one builds libraries like this anymore.Listed in: Best of Dublin
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Review from Ashley B.
11/11/2009
Took a tour, but as with most of them... what I actually take and regurgitate is limited. I remember the guide being nice to look at and listen to (drool). It has a lot of history and is a really beautiful campus.
Although it doesn't reval my favorite part of Dublin: Kilimanjaro Jail and the pubs!Listed in: Get Outta Here!
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Review from Sharman A.
26/12/2011
I loved this place. I found it majestic and inspirational. I am sure I would have produced more scholarly grades if I had attended Trinity myself. Make sure you take the tour and check out the Book of Kells!
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Review from M M.
Dublin
22/6/2009 7 photos
As Alex pointed out there are indeed lots of things to do in Trinity. There are plenty of green areas and some sports fields and a running track to make use of and the best place to have a picnic? Under the two Oregon Maple Trees in Trinity Square. They are the largest Oregon Maple Trees in Europe! They are also planted in the ancient graveyard of the abbey that was originally located where Trinity is today! Spooky!
The library at Trinity College is also the largest one in Ireland and houses the Book of Kells, a beautifully illustrated gospel manuscript written around 800AD!! It also house exhibits and is a beautiful building so well worth checking out! -
Review from Jo M.
11/7/2009
I enjoy escaping to the Trinity grounds to soak up a bit of the serenity when the madness of Grafton St has me riled up and ready for the punch.
The thing I can't understand about Trinity is the 'no sitting on the grass' rule. When I was at university in my hometown of Brisbane, Australia, sitting on the grass in the Great Court for hours on end was essential to the conferral of your Bachelor's.
In fact, I'm sure I spent more time on the grass in said court or on the 'Grassy Knoll' than I did in the lecture theatre (but what are lectures for anyway??)
It was an integral part of my university experience, and I pity the poor Trinity goers who are not able to have such a complete on-campus experience. Sitting on the grass chatting with friends and strangers while the huge pile of textbooks at your feet goes unnoticed is a rite of passage of any university course, and I for one am grateful not to have been deprived of this pleasure.
Granted, the weather in Australia is better than in Ireland and more conducive to grass-dwelling, and granted also, the grass in the Great Court did not look anywhere near as healthy as that of Trinity's hand-manicured blades, but let's not forget here that my home state was in the grip of the worst drought of the century at the time, so grass anywhere was really a bit of a novelty.
So what I'm trying to say here is Trinity - break open the glass menagerie and share your grass with us. Your students, the general public, the world will be a better place if you do. -
Review from Rónán C.
Dublin
11/8/2009 1 photo
Crackin'pub that would be a thousand times better if it didn't have that college tacked on. Really, I'd much rather sit on the grass than watch grown men swan about dressed in white playing a game I'm convinced has no actual rules.
I have tried on many occasions to understand cricket, I've even watched documentary's. But the only draw I can see is when the West Indies are beating England and there's music, dancing, barbeques and booze. Essentially, something/anything to distract you from the cricket.
I also don't appreciate my forced ejection for non-possession of a Trinity ID. Especially when the thousand or so tourists the place holds are allowed wander about unaccosted. And they complain when people call them snobs? Really now. -
Review from Alena B.
29/5/2011
This is a beautiful college set in the hart of Dublin with a beautiful library and the Book Of Kells...all of which are not to be missed. THe campus is green and beautiful and everyone was really friendly. I would go again!
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Review from Lisa S.
24/5/2011
The campus hosts the Book of Kells, which is a draw in and of itself. However, the university is really interesting as well. I came here for a study abroad program, and the campus and facilities are more than adequate. The location is central, and the buildings are beautiful. The only problem is the cobble stones, especially when you're wearing heels. :)
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Review from Kate M.
Dublin
11/8/2009 1 photo
Beautiful buildings, great history, lots of tourists and annoying cobblestones. That pretty much sums it up!
Oh no wait. I forgot to add that it also has the best student bar in Dublin. The Pav: I salute you. -
Review from Aoife O.
Dublin
10/7/2009 1 photo
Like Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College automatically rolls off the tongue when people ask where to visit in Dublin.
Trinity is located in Dublin's throbbing centre and it is a place of rare tranquility in the metropolis. The University is steeped in history and displays some impressive architecture. It is said to be Ireland's answer to Cambridge and Oxford and its history is more than a little intertwined with the British Empire. It was a stronghold of imperialism and although students now come from all walks of life, it still carries a stigma for being 'toffy'.
Tourists usually make a beeline for the ancient Celtic manuscript, the Book of Kells, and The Long Room above. They are well worth a visit and entrance is free if you are with a Trinity student. Equally satisfying is simply wandering around the campus gazing at old buildings. There is an enchanting little cherry-tree garden at the front of the rugby pitch. If the sun is shining, take a sandwich and join the chattering scholars, however beware of overenthusiastic security guards "protecting" the grass! -
Review from Mary C.
22/9/2009 1 photo
Trinity College is certainly a must-see for visitors to Dublin. I highly recommend the student-led tour, which is really interesting, entertaining and funny. Our guide had this strange, booming, put-upon accent that you could tell he made up. Especially when someone at the end of the tour asked him a question and he replied speaking at top speed with a full-blown Irish accent. That's not a complaint, it made for an even more interesting tour!
The tour is great because it gives you a sense of the history of the college and makes all of the pretty buildings come to life.
The tour concludes at the famed Book of Kells, which is nice but not really all that special, considering the amount of cool old books to be found around Europe and Dublin itself (see the Chester Beatty Library, which is FREE). After you glimpse the famed pages, you can check out the Long Room upstairs, which is exactly the type of library I envision having in my home one day. Picture a long room (duh) filled floor to ceiling with old books, and those wheelie ladders to access the top ones (nerds everywhere swoon). They have some exhibits in cases in there as well, but the current Napoleon one when I was there was kind of a snooze. One thing I thought was funny was they had a large replica of the Rosetta Stone, which was labeled Rosetta Stone and gave no indication it was fake. Shady business... -
Review from Nate C.
13/6/2009
No, I wasn't a student here, but I toured the campus... and forgot to check out the world-famous library.
The architecture is brilliant! I briefly got to watch a game of gealic football, and as I was leaving I saw a "free the weed" protest. -
Review from GINA H.
23/6/2009
Buy yourself a sandwich and a drink at any nearby sandwich shop and plonk yourself down on the grass just before 1p.m. on a sunny summer day and watch the nearby office workers flock in to work on their summer tans. Thats entertainment all on its own.
Listed in: Ireland
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Review from Austen T.
19/8/2010
Trinity College... while I didn't study here (I spent a semester at UCD), I found it a joy to walk around the campus. It really is beautiful. Trinity is the oldest college in Ireland and one of the British Isles' "ancient universities." The best part of visiting is just walking around the campus. Still, every visitor must go to the area where they keep the Book of Kells. I say "the area" because I (nor any of my friends) ever personally went in. The admission is a bit steep to just look at a book. Still, there is a gift shop with lots of pictures of the book, and there is an old library open above the gift shop which is really cool to look at.
Listed in: Where the Craic Is
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Review from Thomas B.
Dublin
28/11/2009
Trinity College is an unbelievably breathtaking beautiful historical campus. The library is a MUST-see! As is the Book of Kells!
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Review from Grace T.
16/8/2011 1 photo
didn't get a chance to really explore the college grounds, but thought it was funny that bf and i have seen this same globe structure both here and at the vatican!
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Review from Ai M.
8/7/2009 2 photos
I wanted to see the Long Room Library but my friends and I forgot about it once we set foot on campus. It made for a beautiful stroll. My friend Anastasia fell in love with this gorgeous place. The pedestrian streets are paved with cobblestones. We peeked inside a building when we heard music practice then tried to imagine as if we were here when our friend Conan was studying art history.
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Review from Josie A.
5/12/2010
amazing campus in a fantastic location!
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Review from Karina C.
Dublin
10/11/2009
I went to college here and I would recommend anyone to pop in just for a peek around the place. You don't even have to do the usual stuff like going to see The Book of Kells to enjoy it. You can soak up the atmosphere by simply strolling around on the cobblestones and observing college life. Nobody will bother you as you wander about. Or you can drop into one of the bars (Buttery is the best) for a pint. It's like an oasis of something else entirely right in the midst of the city centre and I love how the front arch doorway is so small, yet opens up into this wonderful place!
