First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska is welcomed to Trinity
Posted on: 02 December 2025
To mark the historic visit, Dr Linda Doyle presented the First Lady with a gift edition of Ireland’s most famous manuscript, the Book of Kells.
The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska (above, centre), was welcomed to Trinity College Dublin on Tuesday 2 December 2025.
The First Lady was greeted by the Provost Dr Linda Doyle (above left) and visited the Book of Kells Exhibition as well as the famous Long Room in the Old Library, where she viewed a rare copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Republic and the Brian Boru harp, the oldest of its kind in Ireland.
During the visit Olena Zelenska was introduced to the Vice-Provost/CAO, Professor Orla Sheils, and was escorted by Anne Marie Diffley, Visitor Services Manager and Jessie Kurtz, Deputy Librarian and Head of Readers' Services.
The First Lady gifted a collection of Ukrainian books to the University’s collection.
To mark the historic visit, Dr Linda Doyle presented the First Lady with a gift edition of Ireland’s most famous manuscript, the Book of Kells.
Olena Zelenska also signed the Visitors' Book, accompanied by Mary Martin, the wife of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD (pictured above on right).
This was the first official visit to Ireland for Ukraine's First Lady and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who met Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD, President Catherine Connolly and addressed the Oireachtas.
Trinity has firm academic connections with Ukraine. The university currently has 136 Ukrainian students, of whom 111 are undergraduates and 25 postgraduates.
Trinity also has partnership agreements - via the Erasmus+ programme - with Ukrainian universities Zaporizhzhia National University and the Ukrainian Catholic University on projects developed in cooperation with the School of English and the School of Law.
Between 2024 and 2027, these projects will enable the mobility of 17 incoming students and 15 incoming staff members.
Through its Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies, Trinity offers a range of Ukrainian courses, including evening courses in the Ukrainian language and an Introduction to Contemporary Ukraine module while its Introduction to Central, East European and Russian Area Studies module also features a lecture on Ukraine. In 2022/2023 the Department ran a series of seven public lectures on Ukrainian history and culture.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Catherine O’Mahony | Media Relations | catherine.omahony@tcd.ie