Trinity Tour

Saturday, July 16, 2010
3:00 p.m.

When the group met at 1:45 in the center of Trinity College today, I was under the impression we would solely be taking a tour of the Book of Kells. I was wrong. After meeting, we were greeted by a spunky, young tour guide who just happened to be a History student at Trinity, planning on graduating in November. She was a “wee” young woman, according to herself, with dark curly hair and a large umbrella in hand. Although it was drizzling when the tour started, the rain faded and the sun came out as soon as we started walking. I was amazed by the amount of information she had on the college. George Salmon, the former provost of Trinity, said he wouldn’t let women attend the college over his dead body; there is now a population of 6,000 (64% women), the four statues surrounding the bell tower represent religion, science, medicine and law; there was once a gun fire battle between students and a professor on the grounds; the food served in the dining hall is far from tasty (according to the guide) but the architecture appears as if it were straight out of a Harry Potter movie; a wine cellar was located below the cobblestone we were standing on around the bell tower. The information was never ending and I learned a great deal in the 20-minute span of the tour. I gained a new knowledge and respect for the college. So much, that I bought a Trinity sweatshirt at the end of the tour!