Page 36


FEATURE | TRIARC

(Two photos captioned: The Provost's stables designed by Frederick Darley junior in 1841 and renovated by the award-winning architects, O'Donnell+Tuomey.)

New Home for the Trinity Irish Art Research Centre (TRIARC) opened in the Provost’s House Stables

TRIARC was established in 2003 to promote specialist education and research in Irish visual culture. Commenting on the significance of the academic research centre, TRIARC Director Dr Yvonne Scott B.B.S., Ph.D. (1980) said: “Irish art has a long and venerable history stretching back several millennia from the ancient carvings at Newgrange to the renaissance of visual art in the 20th century. TRIARC was created in response to the unprecedented growth of interest in Irish art, both nationally and internationally, and the consequent demand for well-qualified graduates, research publications and educational courses at all levels in this field.”

Following a generous benefaction from Fred Krehbiel, co-chairman of Molex Inc. and Trinity Foundation board member, TRIARC’s research and teaching activities are now housed in the beautifully renovated stables adjacent to the classical Provost’s House.

TRIARC builds on existing expertise, courses, and facilities offered by TCD’s History of Art Department in the School of Histories and Humanities, providing an expanded range of courses on Irish art and architecture specialising in Irish art. It has responsibility for the largest image archive of Irish art in the world, including the Crookshank-Glin collection of 17th to early 20thcentury painting, and the Stalley and Rae collections of medieval art and architecture.

The academic research centre also promotes and facilitates the publication of academic research on visual culture in and related to Ireland. Marking the official launch of its new home, TRIARC hosted the fourth Trinity Long Room Hub’s Lewis Glucksman Memorial Symposium, entitled ‘From the Horse’s Mouth - the significance of the artist’s statement’ featuring Stephen Bann, Professor of History of Art at the University of Bristol, along with leading Irish contemporary artists Dorothy Cross and Hughie O’Donoghue.

Following the Symposium, there was a reception and an official launch of the building by Louis le Brocquy, Ireland’s oldest living artist, and distinguished photographer and art historian Jacqueline O’Brien. A book, The Provost’s House Stables, edited by Yvonne Scott and Rachel Moss B.A., Ph.D. (1992), was also produced to mark the event. It provides information on the Stables, demonstrating the type and range of scholarship in which TRIARC is engaged. The book was generously sponsored by Tony and Clare White, who have also provided research Fellowships for a number of the postgraduate students, and is available to buy from the Library Shop in Trinity College.

For further information on TRIARC courses or public opening times please contact:

Yvonne Scott B.B.S., Ph.D. (1980), TRIARC Director
e. scotty@tcd.ie
www.triarc.ie