Dublin - Trinity College

At the south end of the O'Connell Bridge, which spans the Liffey in the center of Dublin city, the street forks. D'Olier Street, to the left, leads southeast into Pearse Street. Westmoreland Street, straight ahead, runs in a gentle curve to College Green, with the main entrance to Trinity College, in spacious park-like grounds which are open to the public.

In front of the 300ft/90m long Palladian facades are statues of Oliver Goldsmith and Edmund Burke (by Henry Foley, 1863 and 1865). The university, founded by Elizabeth I in 1591, was confined to Protestants until 1793, and Roman Catholics were excluded from fellowships and scholarships until 1873. In 1903 women were admitted to degrees for the first time. Alumni of Trinity College have included Samuel Beckett, Edmund Burke, Robert Emmet, Oliver Goldsmith, Jonathan Swift, J. M. Synge and Oscar Wilde. It now has over 5,000 students.

After the noisy traffic of College Green the entrance courtyard of Trinity College is a haven of peace. On the left stands the Chapel (since 1973 open to all denominations having a university chaplain), on the right the Examination Hall (1779-91; originally a theater), both designed by Sir William Chambers. Beyond the Chapel is the Dining Hall (by Richard Cassels, 1743), which is hung with portraits of notable members of the university. In the second courtyard is a sculpture by Henry Moore.
The Colonnade houses exhibitions including the Book of Kells.