Trinity welcomes the Italian President Sergio Mattarella

Posted on: 15 February 2018

The Italian President, Sergio Mattarella visited Trinity College Dublin today. Welcoming  President, Mattarella, the College Registrar, Professor Paula Murphy said:

“ Trinity has a long history of Italian studies  over 240 years and has played host to thousands of Italian students. We are especially honoured by this visit which goes to strengthen our relations further with Italy.”

The Italian President visited Trinity’s Long Room situated in the College’s 18th century Old Library building.

During his visit he was accompanied by the College Registrar along with the College Librarian and Archivist, Helen Shenton.

He was shown the Book of Kells, a 9th century gospel manuscript written and illustrated by Columban monks, famous throughout the world for its beautifully intricate decoration and representative of Ireland as a seat of art and learning.

The Italian President also viewed the Library’s collection of Italian books and manuscripts which included 15th and 16th century first editions of Dante’s La Divina Commedia along with other precious editions of works of Ariosto, Virgil and Plutarch.   A notebook belonging to Samuel Beckett who studied Italian and French was   also shown to the President. It contained notes on Dante, from 1926 when he was preparing for his final examination in Italian.

Additionally 18th century maps of Italy and Sicily were on display from the Dutch Fagel collection for the presidential visit.

Concluding the visit, the Italian President met with Italian students attending Trinity along with academic staff of the Italian Department.