Trinity College Dublin and Glasnevin Cemetery Forge Partnership to Explore & Illuminate the Decade of Centenary Commemorations from 2012-2023

Posted on: 11 February 2013

The School of Histories and Humanities Trinity College Dublin and Glasnevin Trust, which operates Glasnevin Cemetery, recently signed an agreement in Trinity College. The two organisations have agreed to partner together to further public and academic understanding of the historic events, between 1912 and 1923, that helped shape modern day Ireland. This pivotal decade has become known as the Decade of Centenary Commemorations and includes great historic events such as the Great 1913 Lockout, the First World War, the Easter Rising and War of Independence.

Combining the deep academic expertise and resources of Trinity College’s School of Histories and Humanities with Glasnevin Cemetery’s over one million digitised burial records and public commemorative events, the partners will research, explore and share new perspectives and information about the era for new generations to learn from.

As part of the Decade of Centenary Commemorations Agreement, the two parties have agreed between them:

– To support the training of graduate Students of the School of Histories and Humanities.

– To work together in other areas of mutual benefit including education and public outreach.

– Trinity College will provide Glasnevin Cemetery with relevant academic guidance and assistance during the decade of centenary commemorations.   

– To organize a public lecture series in Glasnevin Cemetery’s Museum, timed to coincide with particular centenaries during the Decade of Commemorations. The series programme will be designed by the Trinity School of Histories and Humanities.

– Glasnevin Trust will also provide Fellowships to MPhil Students of the School of Histories and Humanities each year during the term of the decade long agreement. 

The first two recipients of Fellowships were announced at the signing of the agreement and presented with their bursary cheques. The first two recipients are Emma Libreri and Jack Kavanagh. Ms Libreri will work with the education department to research the ritual of Commemoration and its agendas, effects and relationship with history. Mr Kavanagh’s research will focus on the specifically on the potential development of the commemoration of the Civil War.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the agreement, the Provost of Trinity College Patrick Prendergast said:  “Forging and strengthening alliances with cultural and national institutions is very important for Trinity.  This partnership with Glasnevin Cemetry will be particularly significant for  research programmes, such as the M.Phil in Modern Irish History and the new M.Phil in Public History and Cultural Heritage, the latter which is a hugely popular course collaborating with cultural institutions in Dublin.”

On behalf of Glasnevin, the Trust’s Chairman, John Green said: “I believe this unique partnership between Ireland’s most prestigious University and most famous cemetery will bring fresh insights to what was a momentous decade for this island.”

He added: “From the vantage point of a century of hindsight, we look forward to presenting these insights to old and new audiences alike through our planned public lecture series and other platforms.” 

John Green, Chairman, Glasnevin Trust and TCD Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast.