Trinity College Dublin has just added 4 busts of women to its old library. A decision taken especially for February 1st, the national day of St. Brigitt’s, to pay tribute to female talent. A first in the library’s history!
Every year, Trinity College’s old library attracts thousands of visitors to discover the Long Room. On the program: a library worthy of the greatest Hogwarts scenes in Harry Potter, with vaulted wooden ceiling, central aisle lined with busts of great thinkers, and of course, on either side, huge wooden shelves loaded with books, some of which are centuries old.
The place seems magical, suspended outside time. A veritable temple of knowledge, the library is considered one of Ireland’s national treasures.
And on February 1, something profoundly changed. In the central aisle of the Long Room, among the male busts, there are now 4 female busts.
They include 18th-century women’s rights activist Molly Wollstonecraft, 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace, Irish writer Lady Augusta Gregory and British scientist Rosalind Franklin.
Four eminent female figures, recognized for their talent.
These new busts were unveiled in Trinity’s former library to mark St. Brigid’s Day on February 1. As a reminder, this feast day celebrates an Irish saint, praised for her faith and actions that helped develop Christianity in Ireland. Today, the Saint has become a veritable symbol of women and femininity.
So it’s no coincidence that the university has chosen February 1 as the date!
Trinity College Dublin has therefore decided to embrace diversity and inclusivity by including sculptures of prominent women in the Long Room.
The new busts are now part of the 40 sculptures in the Long Room. Until now, the room has been decorated exclusively with sculptures of men who have left their mark on history. They include William Shakespeare, the Greek poet Homer, and the Irish revolutionary Theobald Wolfe Tone.
The four women were chosen in 2020 after Trinity College students, staff and alumni compiled a list of 500 women who have made significant contributions to scholarship and culture throughout history.
The entire city of Dublin applauded the initiative, and was proud to honor these exceptional women!
More news
