Dublin-Trinity College
Trinity College Dublin
"A mental institution of the best and brightest, steeped in Episcopalian tradition. With 90% of the population Catholic, glad they opened it up to them as well."
1592
Foundation of Trinity College
Founded by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity College Dublin was established as a Protestant university in Catholic Ireland. Originally restricted to Anglicans, it would later become a beacon of intellectual freedom.
18th Century
Jonathan Swift Era
Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels" and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, attended Trinity College. His satirical genius and sharp wit would define Irish literary tradition for generations.
Jonathan Swift
19th Century
The Long Room & Literary Giants
The iconic Long Room library, later featured in Harry Potter films, became home to treasures like the Book of Kells and Brian's Harp - the oldest harp in Ireland. This sacred space would inspire countless writers.
"As I walked the library, I could smell the illuminated manuscripts, and passed The Book of Kells, and Brian's Harp, the oldest in Ireland. A great morning."
Late 19th Century
Oscar Wilde's Brilliance
Oscar Wilde studied classics at Trinity before going to Oxford. His wit, aesthetic philosophy, and tragic end would make him one of literature's most celebrated figures. His connection to Trinity remained a source of Irish pride.
Oscar Wilde
Early 20th Century
Modernist Revolution
The early 1900s saw Trinity's influence on modernist literature through W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett. While Joyce didn't attend Trinity, his connection to Dublin's intellectual circle was profound. This era marked Ireland's literary renaissance.
W.B. Yeats
Samuel Beckett
James Joyce
Modern Era
Literary Napalm & Hogwarts
Today, Trinity College stands as "Literary Napalm" - the Google of Yeats, Swift, Beckett, Stoker, and Wilde. The Long Room's appearance in Harry Potter films as Hogwarts Library brought Trinity's magic to millions worldwide.
Trinity College: Where Protestant tradition met Catholic genius, creating an institution that transcended religious boundaries to become Ireland's intellectual heart and the inspiration for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.