Student Life at Trinity College
Student Societies
There is more to the Trinity experience than lectures and study. One of the core elements of student life is the range of activities organised by students for students. Almost 100 Trinity societies, covering a broad range of interests, constitute the most dynamic and active set of university student societies in Ireland.
There is something for everyone from societies like the Philosophical Society and the College Historical Society with their established debating tradition and impressive list of guest speakers (including in the past year Michael Gambon, Stephen Fry, Alastair Campbell, Rupert Everett, Gordon Brown to name but a few), to the Players (drama) society who hold approximately 50 shows a year, making it the most productive theatre company in the UK and Ireland, while still organising large scale events such as the Trinity Fringe Festival and the Oscar Wilde Festival. You can join the Filmmakers Society, Trinity FM, Trinity TV or the Photography Society who each have a studio on campus and hold regular screenings, broadcast weeks, exhibitions and classes respectively.
You can try your hand to everything from singing to sci-fi, juggling to jazz, alternative music to amnesty and politics to paintballing, relax with the Yoga society or de-stress in a different way with the arts and craft activities run by the likes of the Trinity Arts Workshop.
Joining societies is an ideal way to meet people and offers invaluable support as well as an introduction to Trinity life. However, if you don’t find a society that interests you, you can always set one up yourself!
You cannot miss the array of society stands in Front Square during Orientation Week but never fear if you don’t make it in – societies are open to new members throughout the year.
Find out more about Trinity Colleges student societies at: www.trinitysocieties.ie
Sport at Trinity College
Trinity College now boasts a state-of-the-art Sports Centre on campus along with a number of outdoor sports sites. The Sports Centre includes a vast array of facilities, including a swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, fitness theatre, holistic treatment rooms etc. The main hall hosts a range of sports including basketball, badminton, volleyball and 5-a-side soccer.
Also on-campus are squash courts, tennis courts, a futsal pitch, rugby, soccer and cricket pitches and a grass athletics track in the summer.
A vibrant programme of recreational classes is organised throughout the year in which all level of sports enthusiasts can take part. Options include Studio Cycling, Power Pump, Pilates, Circuits and much more. This is a great opportunity to maintain a healthy and fun-filled lifestyle whilst studying at Trinity.
Two miles upstream from the College is a boathouse accommodating the Ladies’ and Mens’ Boat Clubs and at Santry Avenue, five miles north of the campus, there are additional pitches for rugby, soccer, hockey and gaelic games.
The University’s athletic club (DUCAC) provides membership to approximately 50 different clubs. DUCAC prides itself on catering for everyone, whatever your level and commitment to sport, from beginners to international sports stars.
At intervarsity level last year, Trinity teams were successful in a number of sports including Gaelic Games, Fencing, Squash, Orienteering and American Football, as well as winning third level league titles in Badminton and Volleyball. In addition, the Men’s Boat Club and Ladies Boat Club captured the ‘Best University’ title at the Irish University Championships and a significant number of students achieved individual success at intervarsity, regional and national levels, in their chosen sport.
Clubs are run by students and these give a sense of belonging and dedication while contributing to team success and personal development. It is a great way to meet people and develop communication, organisation, leadership, financial and administrative skills.
Sport Clubs include: Aikido, American Football, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Camogie, Climbing, Cricket, Croquet, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Gaelic Football, Golf, Handball, Harriers and Athletics, Judo, Karate, Kayak, Kenpo, Lawn Tennis, Netball, Orienteering, Rifle, Rugby, Sailing, Snowsports, Soccer, Squash, Sub Aqua, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tae Kwon Do, Trampoline, Triathlon, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball and Windsurfing.
Tel: +353 1 896 1502
E-mail: sport@tcd.ie
Website: www.tcd.ie/sport
Sports Clubs' websites: www.ducac.tcdlife.ie/clubs
Read about our Sports scholarships.
Students' Union
The Students’ Union is the main representative body for all students in Trinity College. Its role is to work on behalf of students. The Students’ Union provides a broad range of services, including two shops, a bookshop, a café, a travel card and information office and job listings. There is a confidential welfare service and confidential academic assistance and advice is available to students. The union also organises a comprehensive entertainment programme including class parties, gigs, nights out, mystery tours, comedy nights and the famous Trinity Ball.
Five full-time sabbatical officers are elected to work as union officers every year. These are: the President, Education officer, Welfare officer, Communications officer and Entertainments officer. The Communications officer is responsible for the publication and distribution of the multi-award winning University Times – the union newspaper and source of Trinity, national and international news as well as listings, reviews and more.
Part-time officers work on representing and promoting specific areas of College and every class has a class representative who organises class parties as well as helping with student problems and acting as a link between students and officers.
The officers of the union represent students on many important College committees including the College Board and University Council. The Students’ Union is also affiliated to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
All students are automatically members of the union and it’s very easy to get involved as a class rep, by writing for The University Times or by being on the Ents crew. It’s your union, so we hope that you will use it!
For more information visit www.tcdsu.org
An Ghaeilge/The Irish language
Tá an Ghaeilge faoi bhláth anseo i gColáiste na Tríonóide i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath, agus bíonn sí á labhairt ar fud an Choláiste. Tá sí le feiceáil i bhfoilseacháin oifigiúla an Choláiste agus i nuachtáin na mac léinn. Tá líon mór ball sa Chumann Gaelach (féach www.cumann.ie), ceann de na cumainn mac léinn is bríomhaire sa tír, a chuireann clár spleodrach imeachtaí sóisialta ar fáil.
Tá Oifig na Gaeilge (féach www.tcd.ie/gaeloifig) ann chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar fud an Choláiste, mar aon le comhairle a thabhairt maidir leis an Acht Teanga. Bíonn an Oifig ag feidhmiú i gcomhar le Coiste na Gaeilge, le tacaíochtó údaráis an Choláiste agus ón Údarás um Ardoideachas. Leagtar amach gealltanais maidir le seirbhísí dátheangacha i Scéim Teanga an Choláiste.
Cuirtear ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil saor in aisce do mhic léinn agus cuirtear fáilte ar leith roimh mhic léinn úra nach bhfuil ag déanamh staidéir ar an nGaeilge mar ábhar acadúil. Tá dhá Scéim Chónaithe Ghaeilge againn do mhic léinn: Scéim Chónaithe Dhartraí i Halla na Tríonóide (do dhaoine atá ag tosú sa Choláiste) agus Scéim Chónaithe an Champais (ar phríomhchampas an Choláiste, do dhaoine atá sa dara bliain nó níos airde).
Sa dara téarma, bíonn féile mhór Gaeilge an Choláiste – Éigse na Tríonóide – ar siúl ar feadh seachtaine, le réimse leathan imeachtaí, idir spóirt, díospóireachtaí, ceolchoirmeacha agus eile. Bain sult as do shaol trí Ghaeilge i gColáiste na Tríonóide!
Irish is flourishing here in Trinity College in the heart of Dublin. You will hear it being spoken throughout the campus and will see it in College and student publications. College’s Cumann Gaelach (see www.cumann.ie) is one of the most vibrant Irish-language student societies in the country, with an exciting programme of social events.
The Irish Language Office/Oifig na Gaeilge (see www.tcd.ie/gaeloifig) promotes the Irish language in College generally as well as advising in relation to the Official Languages Act. The Irish Language Office operates in conjunction with Coiste na Gaeilge, Trinity College’s Irish Language Committee, and with the support of the College authorities and the Higher Education Authority. Commitments in relation to bilingual services are set out in TCD’s Irish Language Scheme.
Irish classes are available free of charge to all students, including those who are not studying Irish as part of their academic course. Trinity College has two Irish-speaking student residential schemes – Scéim Chónaithe Dhartraí (in Trinity Hall, for first-year students) and Scéim Chónaithe an Champais (on the main campus, for continuing students).
In the second term, College’s annual week-long Irish festival, Éigse na Tríonóide, takes place. The programme features a wide range of activities – including sport, debates, concerts and tours. Enjoy the Irish language as part of your Trinity College experience
Trinity Publications
The award-winning magazines and newspapers that constitute Trinity College’s vibrant student media are supported by Trinity Publications. These include Icarus (literary review), TCD Miscellany (commentary), The Piranha (satire), Trinity Film Review (film review), Trinity News (broadsheet newspaper), The Attic, The Social and Political Review, and The Histories and Humanities Journal, to name but a few.
2011 was a successful year for Trinity Publications at the National Student Media Awards, with the University Times winning ‘Newspaper of the year’ for the second year in a row, and it’s editor, Tom Lowe, named as ‘Journalist of the Year’; while Aoife Crowley, editor of Trinity News won the ‘Editor of the Year’ award. Other awards for Trinity Publications included ‘Best Magazine’, and the ‘Arts Feature Writer of the Year’ award for Karl McDonald.
Trinity Publications celebrated alumni include author and journalist Mark Little; Peter Murtagh and Eoin McVey – Managing Editors of The Irish Times; Paul McGuinness – Manager of U2; and Ed Mulhall – Managing Director of News at RTÉ.
All students are encouraged to contribute to our publications. We also welcome applications to start up new student publications in College, and can offer funding to cover print costs and the use of our industry-standard design software and equipment.
Find out more at http://trinitynews.ie www.universitytimes.ie and www.trinitypublications.info
Trinity College theatres
The Samuel Beckett Centre comprises the Samuel Beckett Theatre (a 208-seat black box performance space), Players Theatre (the studio theatre of the student drama society), a dance studio/rehearsal space, seminar rooms and offices. During term time the Samuel Beckett Theatre showcases the work of Drama and theatre studies. It has also hosted visits from some of the most prestigious dance and theatre companies from Ireland, Europe, Japan and the United States. Regular events at the Samuel Beckett Theatre include the Dublin Theatre Festival, as well as an on-going series of lectures in contemporary theatre by practitioners and scholars.
Find out more at www.tcd.ie/Drama
Gallery
The Douglas Hyde Gallery, located within Trinity College, is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary art galleries. The gallery regularly hosts exhibitions by established artists from Ireland and abroad.
The gallery was opened in 1978 and is located at the Nassau Street entrance to Trinity College. It is a non-profit making company, funded jointly by Trinity College and the Arts Council of Ireland. The Gallery, whose reputation is firmly established in the international contemporary art world, has a diverse programme of exhibitions, and its publications are widely distributed in Ireland and abroad. Activities such as tours, lectures and discussion groups encourage audience participation and evaluation of the work on show; there are also frequent film screenings and occasional concerts. The Gallery has a small bookshop which stocks a wide range of art magazines and catalogues of current and past exhibitions.
Admission to the gallery is free. Private tours can also be arranged.
Find out more at www.douglashydegallery.com or call +353 1 896 1116.
Restaurants and coffee shops
historic Old Dining Hall, the modern Buttery Food Court and the Hamilton Restaurant) and three ‘Java City’ speciality coffee shops. Trinity’s food outlets only serve ‘Fair-trade’ certified tea and coffee. For more information visit www.tcd.ie/catering
In addition, Dublin city’s wide selection of restaurants, cafés, delis and coffee shops are within a few minutes walk of College.
Accommodation
There is accommodation both on campus and at Trinity Hall a short distance away. New entrants are predominantly accommodated at Trinity Hall which is in Dartry, near Rathmines – about 2.5 miles from the city centre and easily accessible from Trinity College by bus and the LUAS tram system. There are over 1,000 residential rooms at Trinity Hall and a significant number are reserved for new entrants to College.
Trinity Hall
Rooms are arranged in self-catering apartments, with each typically accommodating six persons and consisting of a mix of single and twin en-suite bedrooms with a large kitchen/living room. All rooms are centrally heated, all floors are serviced by lifts, electric appliances are supplied in the kitchens, and for security, electronic swipe card locks are used throughout and are fitted on bedroom doors. Residents of Trinity Hall also become members of the Junior Common Room which organises a range of extra-curricular activities.
Ar mhaith leat páirt a ghlacadh i Scéim Chónaithe Dhartraí, scéim i Halla na Tríonóide do lucht na chéad bhliana? Would you like to take part in Scéim Chónaithe Dhartraí, an Irish speaking residential scheme for Junior Freshman students in Trinity Hall?
Tuilleadh eolais/For further information, go to www.tcd.ie/gaeloifig/sceim-chonaithe/sceim-dhartrai
Trinity Hall Open Days in 2012 will be held on the Friday afternoon and Saturday in August after the Leaving Certificate results are published. See www.tcd.ie/accommodation for more information.
Cost of rooms in Trinity Hall 2011/2012
Twin en-suite room €3,882
Single room with shared bathroom €4,231
Single en-suite room €5,061
How to apply for Trinity Hall
As soon as you have accepted a place in Trinity College you may submit an application for Trinity Hall online at www.tcd.ie/accommodation/StudentsandStaff/Students/ApplyforaRoom
On-campus rooms
Rooms on campus are mostly reserved for students in their final year and Trinity Scholars (see page 17). There are a number of rooms on the campus suitable for students who have mobility difficulties and who are capable of independent living. Where, due to medical or other particular circumstances, participation in College may be facilitated by the provision of accommodation, applications will receive special consideration. Applications from students with special needs should be addressed to the Registrar of Chambers, Accommodation Office, West Chapel, Trinity College, Dublin 2 as soon as an offer to a course at Trinity College is received. A supplementary form will then be sent requesting information from a medical practitioner and other relevant professionals, this form can also be downloaded from the web.
Find out more at www.tcd.ie/accommodation/StudentsandStaff/Students/ApplyforaRoom
Other options for first-year students
For students who do not apply for or do not secure a place in College accommodation the alternative is to seek private rented accommodation, usually sharing an apartment or a house with other students.
The Accommodation Advisory Service operates annually from late August to the beginning of term in cooperation with the Students’ Union. It provides information and contacts for students wishing to secure rented accommodation and offers guidance on what to look for when renting. Phones are provided so that students may make contact with landlords. The Advisory Service may also be able to give some information on digs or lodgings (residing in a room in a house with meals provided).
For further information and advice see www.tcd.ie/accommodation/StudentsandStaff/UsefulInformation/PrivateRentedAccommodation