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FEATURE


A Short History of Giving to Trinity

TODAY’S DONORS TO TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN CONTINUE AN EXTRAORDINARY TRADITION OF GIVING TO THE UNIVERSITY…

16th Century

1590s Dublin Corporation resolves to make the lands and dilapidated buildings of the monastery of All Hallows available for educational purposes freely and in perpetuity. This gift secures a site for the first Irish university and Trinity College Dublin, the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin, is established by charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1592.

An appeal for subscriptions to leading citizens in every county in Ireland is launched. Donors include: Sir Turlough O’Neill, the uncle of the Earl of Tyrone, giving £100, and Sir Hugh Magennis, with the gentlemen of County Down, donating £140. The appeal raises £2,047 and the money is applied to building and furnishings.


17th Century

1610s James 1 endows five separate grants of land in various parts of the country, as well as confirming in perpetuity an annual subsidy.

1660s The Library is developed through gifts. Henry Jones, Bishop of Meath presents the two world-famous illuminated manuscript gospel books, The Book of Kells and The Book of Durrow. The library of James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, one of the first alumni of the College, a Professor of Divinity and a Fellow, is also bequeathed to College. It consists of some 10,000 volumes of manuscripts and printed books.


18th Century

1720s The Erasmus Smith Trust funds fellowships, professorships and lectureships, student support and makes grants for building work.

1750s The creation of Front Square begins after College petitions Parliament for a grant to rebuild the West Front. £30,000 is given between 1752 and 1759.


19th Century

1832 Sir Patrick Dun, the leading Dublin physician leaves a substantial bequest which enables the establishment of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, a teaching hospital in 1832. This remains closely associated with Trinity’s Medical School and when it closes in the 1980s the sale proceeds are used to construct the Sir Patrick Dun Research Laboratories and the Trinity Centre for Health Science at St James’s Hospital.