Trinity Hosts RTÉ Reflecting the Rising Events

Posted on: 07 April 2016

As part of Trinity’s centenary celebrations, the University participated in RTÉ; Reflecting the Rising in partnership with Ireland 2016, a free family event which took place throughout Dublin city centre on Monday 28th March.

Our gates opened to the public for a wide-ranging collection of talks and debates in English and Irish featuring our leading academics, exhibitions, dramatic and musical events to commemorate the Rising.  There were also performances by Trinity Singers, Trinitones, Trinity Céilí Band and vintage tennis matches. 

When the Rising began, the gates of Trinity College Dublin were closed. Members of the Officer Training Corps and soldiers on leave took to the roofs to defend the College, firing on rebel positions. A temporary hospital treated wounded civilians and combatants, and some fatalities were temporarily buried in the grounds. The campus also became an assembly point for British reinforcements closing in on rebel strongholds. 

The Great War was in its third year, and tens of thousands of Irish men had signed up to fight.  About 470 Trinity students, staff and alumni lost their lives in the conflict. 

For information on Trinity’s centenary activities, please visit the Decade of Commemoration website.