Languages Alumni Summer Social - an evening to remember!

This year the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies is marking the 250th anniversary of the establishment of Modern Languages in Trinity College Dublin. To celebrate this historic year, we invited our past students to join us on campus for a celebratory reception, which featured the talents of our creative graduates: Gemma Cox (French and Music, 2022), comedian-actor Michael Fry (French and Hispanic Studies, 2016) and presenter-performer James Patrice (Drama and Theatre Studies and French, 2011).

Mary Cosgrove, Professor of German (1776) welcomed attendees, and in her address, reflected on the historic significance of this year, linking past and present, emphasising the importance of language learning on a global stage, and how these goals can be achieved with the support of the School’s international alumni community:

"Wars and revolutions shaped Provost Hely-Hutchinson’s age, and our times are in this respect no different. As Ireland looks ahead to taking up the EU Presidency next month, John Le Carré’s vision of language learning as an act of friendship across borders is more important than ever and should, we believe, form part of the government’s message throughout its six-month tenure: languages for better mutual understanding, friendship, and peace within and across borders, languages for now, languages for the future."

James Patrice, Rachel Hoare, Michael Fry and Gemma Cox.

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This event forms part of the 'Languages 250 at Trinity (1776-2026)' programme, throughout 2026, the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies is marking the 250th anniversary of the establishment of Modern Languages in Trinity College Dublin.