"We Irish prefer embroideries to plain cloth. To us Irish, memory is a canvas—stretched, primed, and ready for painting on. We love the "story" part of the word "history," and we love it trimmed out with color and drama, ribbons and bows. Listen to our tunes, observe a Celtic scroll: we always decorate our essence."
- Frank Delaney, Irish novelist, journalist and broadcaster
Foreword
Trinity Week is one of the most enjoyable weeks in the Trinity calendar. During Trinity Week we celebrate the academic and scholarly achievements of our staff and students. This year it will take place from the 11th to the 15th of April.
On Trinity Monday the long established tradition of announcing the new Fellows and Scholars will be conducted from the steps of the Public Theatre. The Fellows are academic staff who have demonstrated great achievement and scholarship through their published works, and who have shown commitment to the College’s core mission in education and research. The new Scholars are undergraduate students who have excelled in the arduous scholarship examination. They have demonstrated their ability as critical and innovative thinkers. At the Scholars' Dinner that evening special tribute is paid to new and past Scholars, with many of those in attendance representing several decades of scholars.
Following the announcement of the new Fellows and Scholars, the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving is held in the College Chapel, with this year’s address being given by Lord John Alderdice.
The Trinity Monday Memorial Discourse will be delivered in the GMB by Dr Anne Dolan, F.T.C.D. on Patrick Pearse (1879-1916).
This year the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is hosting Trinity Week and has put together a programme around the theme of “Memory”.
On Tuesday morning, the Trinity Week Academic Symposium, “The Science of Memory” looks at topics from the fundamental psychological science underpinning memory, to some of the processes that support memory in the brain. Presentations will be from some of Trinity’s internationally-leading memory researchers.
Literary events include an evening of poetry with Michael Longley, and an open mic-style poetry/prose recitation event, in honour of Brendan Kennelly on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Of course Trinity Week is not just about academic activities: University Challenge: Trinity Edition 2 will take place on Trinity Wednesday and the Trinity Ball will take place on the Friday of Trinity Week.
And for the first time, some of the Trinity Creative Challenge works will be realised during Trinity Week this year with The First International Conference of Ultimology and Grace Weir’s A Reflection of Light-screening, live music accompaniment and exhibition, both taking place on the Thursday.
I would like to thank the all the organisers for putting together this vibrant Trinity Week. There are many great events happening during Trinity Week and I look forward to not only participating, but seeing everyone else getting involved too.
Dr Patrick Prendergast
Provost