University of Dublin

Trinity College DublinTrinity College Dublin, the only constituent college of the University of Dublin.

University of Dublin, the oldest university in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland and endowed by the city of Dublin.

It was originally intended that Trinity College would be the first of many constituent colleges of the University of Dublin, but none of them have been established. Today the two names—the University of Dublin and Trinity College Dublin—are considered interchangeable in everyday use, though there are legal and other differences between these entities.

Long Room, Old Library, Trinity College Dublin
Long Room, Old Library, Trinity College DublinThe Long Room in the Old Library, Trinity College Dublin.

The full benefits of the university—degrees, fellowships, scholarships, and emoluments—were limited to Anglicans for many years, but in 1873 all religious requirements were eliminated. The library, called the Library of Trinity College Dublin, identifies itself as the largest library in Ireland, and it contains many illuminated manuscripts, including the famous Book of Kells.

J.E. Luebering The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Citation Information
Article Title: University of Dublin
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 17 March 2024
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Dublin
Access Date: November 23, 2024