Trinity college was a great experience as we were immersed in beautiful architecture filled with an interesting history. Trinity college is an open structed campus allowing tourist like us to tour the beautiful place that these students study in relentlessly to secure a solid future. While we were allowed to enter, back then Catholics were not allowed into trinity college until 1970s, thus another college close by was made so everyone can get an education prior to acceptance.

A statue of Provost George Salmon stands to the left of the Campanile (big bell tower) inside the campus which is a famous spot women take a picture next to. The reasoning behind the fame of this statue is due to his most remember words that he proclaimed over his dead body will no women enter the college. Rapidly after his death in 1904 the first female students entered and attended the college. Women now enter and walk over his burial site and by his statue daily which shows how much has changed over the years at this college. Today the college welcomes everyone giving wonderful opportunities to flourish, despite its restrictive past.

The campus holds the Book of Kells and the Brian Boru Harp, which are historic pieces that bring lots of attention from locals and tourists. The Brian Boru Harp is seen as the national emblem of Ireland and can be seen on the passports and coins. The harp is also modified and appears everywhere as the symbol for the famous Guinness brand. The Book of Kells is displayed in a special room for preservation for people to look with the eye but not to photograph or video record. The Book of Kells is a Celtic Gospel book containing pictures filled with breathtaking colors and Latin text. Both items were truly a sight to behold and getting to listen to the history of the items and the college itself made me appreciate the campus even more. The campus is filled with rich history that parallels to the beauty of the architecture that remains.

– Kandice, SPC Ireland (Vet Tech) Study Abroad Program, March 2026