Trinity Hall (
Irish: ''Halla na Tríonóide'') is the main extramural
hall of residence for students of
Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. It is located on Dartry Road in the
Dartry
Dartry () is a small suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, often referred to as a corridor between Rathmines area and Milltown, Dublin, Milltown. Among the locations in Dartry are Dartry Road, Temple Road, Orwell Park and Palmerston ...
neighbourhood, part of the affluent suburb of
Rathmines
Rathmines (; ) is an inner suburb on the Southside (Dublin), Southside of Dublin in Ireland. It begins at the southern side of the Grand Canal of Ireland, Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranela ...
and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the College's
main campus. Trinity's Botanic Gardens share the site. Trinity Hall is linked to the city centre campus by direct
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus () is an Irish State-owned enterprise, state-owned bus operator providing services in Dublin. By far the largest bus operator in the city, it carried 145 million passengers in 2023. It is a subsidiary of CIÉ, Córas Iompair Éireann ...
route and the
Luas
Luas (, Irish language, Irish: ; meaning 'speed') is a tram system in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. There are two main lines: the Green Line (Luas), Green Line, which began operating on 30 June 2004, and the Red Line (Luas), Red Line ...
light rail system via the
Milltown Luas stop.
History
The first Trinity Hall
The first extramural hall established by Trinity College under the name Trinity Hall was located near Hoggen Green (now
College Green), on land which had originally been intended for use as a 'bridewell' or
house of correction for vagrants. The land, located to the west of Trinity, was sold to the college by
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation (), known by generations of Dubliners simply as ''The Corpo'', is the former name of the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin since the 1100s. Significantly re-structured in 1660–1661, even more si ...
for the sum of £30 on condition that it be converted for educational use. A Master was appointed, buildings were constructed, and the site was used for teaching and residence by students from 1617 onwards.
However, during the course of the
1641 Rebellion, the site was occupied by poor people from the city. The hall having fallen into decay (which the college at the time could not afford to repair), Trinity discontinued its teaching there, causing the corporation to seek that the site revert to their ownership on the grounds that the agreements for its use were not being upheld. The situation was resolved by
John Stearne, a
medical doctor
A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis ...
and senior
fellow
A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...
at Trinity, who arranged to have the hall repaired without further expense to the college in return for himself being made its president and for the site being redesignated for the sole use of physicians. The daughter college thus founded in 1654 eventually received a
royal charter
A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
as the
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), () is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialty, medical specialities, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by e ...
in 1667, and in the years following Stearne's death it gained virtual independence from Trinity.
The modern Trinity Hall
The grounds comprising the current Trinity Hall first came under the college's ownership in 1908 when a house named 'Glen-na-Smoil' was purchased in
Dartry
Dartry () is a small suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, often referred to as a corridor between Rathmines area and Milltown, Dublin, Milltown. Among the locations in Dartry are Dartry Road, Temple Road, Orwell Park and Palmerston ...
as a move towards establishing a hall of residence for women. At the time of Trinity Hall's establishment, women had to leave the College campus before 6pm, had to wear 'cap and gown' and could not visit private rooms unless accompanied by a chaperon.
Much of the funding came from donations by the Chancellor,
Lord Iveagh
Earl of Iveagh (pronounced —especially in Dublin—or ) is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1919 for the businessman and philanthropist Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, Edward Guinness, 1st Viscount Iveagh. He was ...
, and
Frederick Purser, a senior fellow, as well as almost all of the fees paid by female Oxford and Cambridge students (the so-called
steamboat ladies) for conferral of University of Dublin degrees under the system of ''
ad eundem gradum
An degree is an academic degree awarded by one university or college to an alumnus of another, in a process commonly known as incorporation. The recipient of the degree is often a faculty member at the institution which awards the degree, e.g. a ...
'' recognition that exists between the three universities (Oxford and Cambridge not permitting female students to receive degrees for their study at the time). The site was extended in 1910 with the donation of the adjacent Palmerston House and its grounds by
John Griffith, who renamed it Purser House in memory of the then-deceased
Sarah Purser, a relative of his.
In its early years, under the leadership of the first distinguished warden, Miss E. M. Cunningham, it was run as a strictly female institution providing a sheltered environment for young women students. The hall continued as a residence for females until 1972, when the first men were admitted.
A further five acres were acquired in 1966 when the Dublin University Botanic Garden was transferred to part of the grounds of Trinity Hall.
By the 21st century, there was a focus on housing first year undergraduates, with a smaller number of places set aside for second year students and postgraduates. In 2004 a €95 million project to hugely increase the number of bedspaces at Trinity Hall opened to students. This allowed Trinity Hall to accommodate over 1,000 students, rather than the 180 it had up until then.
As of 2024, the College has received permission from
An Bord Pleanála for a major new development which is scheduled to add over 300 new spaces for students amidst Ireland's ongoing housing crisis.
Facilities and Grounds
Residential Areas
The modern residence comprises 12 separate houses (numbered 80 – 91, continuing the numbering system used on the Trinity College campus), in three blocks, each house featuring 10 to 20 apartments. These units are arranged in a combination of twin, single, and staff rooms, with disabled accessible rooms distributed throughout the site. Most accommodate five to seven people, with some single apartments for staff. Each apartment contains common living, dining and kitchen areas.
The apartments are grouped into independent, contained houses, gathered to form open-ended courtyards and landscaped parks.
The older house, Cunningham House (House 79), is no longer in use; it contained older single study bedrooms, where each apartment accommodated 14 people. Built in the 1970s, it is scheduled for demolition in order to build additional modern units.
Support facilities necessary to the basic maintenance and operation of the institution include a laundrette, linen stores, workshops, reception areas, associated stores, offices and a student shop. They are centrally located and operate specifically to serve the on-site community.
Amenities & Recreational Facilities
Three older
Georgian houses located on site,
Oldham
Oldham is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers River Irk, Irk and River Medlock, Medlock, southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative cent ...
House, Greenane House, and
Purser
A purser is the person on a ship principally responsible for the handling of money on board. On modern merchant ships, the purser is the officer responsible for all administration (including the ship's cargo and passenger manifests) and supply. ...
House, are
protected structures, which are preserved for their historic and cultural significance. Oldham House may be used by students as a social space, and also contains a library, a computer rooms, as well as the Warden's Office.
A 24 hour reception and security facilities are available in the site. The sports facilities on site are located in the McConnell Sports Hall which includes a squash court, table tennis, badminton, indoor football, games area for pool and snooker, on-site shop, and games consoles. The new buildings also house a canteen capable of seating 400 diners with associated kitchens and an atrium to rear.
Entertainment facilities include a TV room and a sound proof music room. All bedrooms have wireless internet connections and the kitchens have a cable TV connection.
Management and Operations
Warden of Trinity Hall
The Warden of Trinity Hall is an academic appointed by the
Provost to oversee the complex on behalf of Trinity College. The Warden carries out two main functions on behalf of College. The Warden is primarily responsible for enquiring into any alleged breach of discipline by a student in Trinity Hall and for taking further action in accordance with the College Statutes. For minor offences, this may result in a fine being imposed upon a student. The second function is to allocate residential rooms in Hall to students. The power to allocate rooms resides with the Provost but for Trinity Hall, this is delegated to the Warden. Applications for rooms are normally invited in the spring and the application form is available on the web.
The Warden typically lives, with their family, in Purser House on the Trinity Hall site. The office of Warden is currently held by Professor Nigel Stevenson.
List of Wardens of Trinity Hall
The following people have occupied the role of Warden.
* 1908 – 1940: E. Margaret Cunningham
* 1940 – 1947: Dorothea Waller
* 1947 – 1949: Joyce Power-Steele
* 1949 – 1957: Clarissa Pilkington (
née
The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
Crawford)
* 1957 – 1965: Anne Denard (
née
The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
Brambell)
* 1965 – 1974: Lelia McCutcheon
* 1974 – 1989: Fred Aalen
* 1989 – 1996:
Petros Serghiou Florides
* 1996 – 2000:
Paddy Nixon
* 2000 – 2005: Carmel O'Sullivan
* 2005 – 2017: Brendan Tangney
* 2017 – 2023: Roja Fazaeli
* 2023 – present: Nigel Stevenson
Senior Common Room
The Senior Common Room (SCR) of Trinity Hall consists of the Warden, Deputy Warden, and Assistant Wardens. Assistant Wardens act as first point of contact for residents who need advice on any aspect of living in Trinity Hall or adjusting to life in Trinity. Assistant Wardens are available to discuss any problems that may arise, be they personal or academic. Assistant Wardens are responsible for the maintenance of good order within Trinity Hall, and for ensuring that the behaviour of students is in accordance with the ethos of Trinity Hall. When requested to do so, residents must follow instructions of Assistant Wardens, provide identification if requested, and desist from anti-social behaviour if asked to do so.
Accommodation Office
The Accommodation Office is tasked with day-to-day operation of the complex. The administrative offices are housed above the main reception area in the red bricked building with a large glass atrium in front of House 81. This are also houses the Residential Services Attendants/Security Desk which is staffed 24 hours per day. Staff of the Accommodation Office are responsible for all matters relating to occupancy of a room and licence to reside, resident’s accounts, early departures as well as the physical property itself and maintenance.
Allocation of Rooms
Trinity Hall is the designated hall of residence for new Trinity College students entering their first year of their undergraduate studies. A small number of undergraduates in all years and visiting students will also be considered for accommodation at Trinity Hall. Recipients of the
Foundation Scholarship are also housed in Trinity Hall during their first year. Provisional room allocations to
EU students are made in advance of
CAO
Cao or CAO may refer to:
Mythology
*Cao (bull), a legendary bull in Meitei mythology
Companies or organizations
* Air China Cargo, ICAO airline designator CAO
* CA Oradea, Romanian football club
* CA Osasuna, Spanish football club
* Canadian ...
offers and are confirmed after a student is admitted to the University. Admission to Trinity Hall is at the discretion of the Warden, and is typically awarded via lottery.
Priority is granted to children of
Fellows of Trinity College coming to Trinity for undergraduate studies, who also receive discounted housing.
Irish Language Residency Scheme (''Scéim Cónaithe'')
Speakers of the
Irish language
Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...
may apply for accommodation in a scheme operated by the College's Irish Language Office which seeks to promote the Irish language in university life by offering Irish language accommodation to student speakers. The Residency Scheme is open to students from across Ireland and abroad who are fluent in Irish and wish to speak the language on a daily basis. Successful candidates also receive a grant of €1,000 from the College over the course of the academic year.
JCR
Trinity Hall is home to a
Junior Common Room (JCR), an elected body of second-year students who organise social events, pursue the interests of the students, and care for student welfare.
See also
*
Buildings and structures of Trinity College Dublin
*
Dartry
Dartry () is a small suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, often referred to as a corridor between Rathmines area and Milltown, Dublin, Milltown. Among the locations in Dartry are Dartry Road, Temple Road, Orwell Park and Palmerston ...
*
Isabel Marion Weir Johnston, the first woman to enter Trinity.
*
List of Trinity College Dublin student organisations
*
Steamboat ladies
*
Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Unive ...
*
Women's college
Women's colleges in higher education are undergraduate, bachelor's degree-granting institutions, often liberal arts colleges, whose student populations are composed exclusively or almost exclusively of women. Some women's colleges admit male st ...
References
External links
Trinity Hall Warden– official site
Accommodation Office – Trinity Hall
{{University of Dublin, Trinity College
Buildings and structures of Trinity College Dublin
Rathmines
University and college residential buildings in Ireland
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland