This weekend, Documentary on Newstalk airs the premiere of TRINITY, in which IMRO-nominated producer Brian Gallagher looks at the lives of the many people who live, work study, and play in Trinity College.
Using a lively mix of interviews, location recordings, sound effects and music, TRINITY explores the stories behind Ireland’s oldest university.
TRINITY will be broadcast on Sunday July 3rd at 7am and will be available as a podcast on all platforms.
Patricia McCormack and Paul Kelly tell what it was like to medical students in Trinity during the seventies, while current chaplain Julian Hamilton gives an insight into his job. Head of Sports, Michelle Tanner, talks about the huge range of sporting activity taking place in the college, and Linda Doyle explains the role of provost, and the fact that she’s the first female provost in the college’s 430 year history. Aoife Lucy tells about being awarded the coveted role of scholar, with its benefits of academic opportunity - and free food.
We hear how Trinity has produced four Presidents and two Taoisigh among its graduates, and Leah Keogh from the Students Union discusses the issues that affect today’s students. Linda Doyle tells what it’s like to live in the provost’s house at Number One Grafton Street, and librarian Helen Shenton talks about the stunning Long Room in the library and how the college is a repository for over five million books.
A vox pop features a colourful selection of people’s memories of Trinity, while Leonard Hobbs reveals how the college, despite its fabled past, is at the cutting edge of research and innovation.
Student Oisin O’Reilly enthuses about Trinity Players, one of the oldest college drama societies in the world, and we hear of the many famous writers and actors who are graduates of the university.
Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan talks about the Trinity Access Programme and its success in opening up a college education to those who previously would have seen Trinity as out of their reach, and Daire Hennessy, a graduate of the programme, tell how he now mentors others to follow in his footsteps. Aoife Lucy reminisces about her time living in rooms on the campus, while attendant Alan O’Keefe talks about his job, and the many changes he’s seen in the college in his 44 years of service. Domhnall Fahey recalls social life in Trinity, while Patricia McCormack tells of her wedding in the historic college chapel.
We hear of the many films and tv series that used the campus as a location, and botanist Jane Stout then looks to the future, explaining Trinity’s role at the forefront of biodiversity. Provost Linda Doyle gives an overview of the college’s many roles, and we finish with other contributors reflecting on their hopes for the future of Trinity.
Quotes from TRINITY:
“It was like a gateway into Wonderland for me.” Patricia McCormack, former medical student.
“He thought to himself: ‘God – I’d love to be there’, but didn’t think it was possible.” Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan, Deputy Director, Trinity Access Programme.
“The social side is probably more fun than you’ll ever have in your life.” Domhnall Fahey, business graduate.
“If you say: ‘What’s a university there for?’ I’d say to you ‘A university is there to change the world’.” Linda Doyle, Provost.
“We’ve got 850,000 maps – it’s so rich, what we have.” Helen Shenton, archivist and librarian.
“The best thing is seeing people flourish. That for me is the reason I get up every morning.” Michelle Tanner, Head of Sport.
“I’ve always thought of Trinity as this giant treasure chest, with resources that we can open up to the wider public.” Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan, Deputy Director, Trinity Access Programme.
“It’s a little green oasis in the middle of the city.” Jane Stout, botanist.
“My hope for the Trinity Access Programme is that we get to the stage where it’s no longer needed.” Daire Hennessy, graduate via the Trinity Access Programme.
