Talk:Trinity College Dublin

So, what else will it take to sort out GA potential...

• Continue to improve referencing; I can help here, as I have a couple of books on TCD
• Expand on research achievements
• Expand a little on governance, finance, etc.
• Ensure any major controversies are dealt with

Let's add to the list, and see who's free to help with these. The initiative is good - we could use GA for such a key Irish article. SeoR (talk) 10:08, 5 February 2025 (UTC)

Yes I agree. A recent GA review for TCD failed, and reasons are mostly references problems. Maybe we request Ireland and Dublin editors to help? Do you know any to ping them? It would be great if Ireland most iconic university becomes GA article. SeanBeans1981 (talk) 05:53, 6 February 2025 (UTC)

Yes, the two preliminary checks focused on referencing. Having been through GA before, I am quite sure that other issues will arise once it's a live process, but it's absolutely worth it, and yes, it would be a great thing to add TCD to the GA list. I will think on, and invite, a relevant list. SeoR (talk) 11:39, 6 February 2025 (UTC).

Yes that is great. Editors who have work on other Irish GA articles are especially good to invite. Thanks for the help :) SeanBeans1981 (talk) 01:35, 7 February 2025 (UTC)

I made the update to article. Is there a way to filter Wikipedia to see which editors also focus on Ireland or Dublin articles? SeanBeans1981 (talk) 07:10, 10 February 2025 (UTC)

If you know editors who can help make this a Good Article, or else want to volunteer yourself only, please ping here. SeanBeans1981 (talk) 00:39, 20 February 2025 (UTC)

Even as an alum and staff member of TCD, I'm have some issues with some of the assertions contained in this article.

Here's a couple of examples:

Firstly, saying "the first artificial nuclear reaction" took place on TCD seems to fly in the face of the readily accepted notion that this took place in a converted squash court beneath the University of Chicago's football stadium; said experiment, known as Chicago Pile-1 (CP-1), occurred on December 2, 1942 under the leadership of Enrico Fermi. Now, if this in fact DID take place in Dublin, could you please cite some proof sources.

Secondly, does it seem bizarre to list a number of notable writers who are alumni and then round off the list with " as well as the writers of The Game of Thrones"? Naturally, such eminent writers deserve to me mentioned, but in the same context as Beckett and Wilde?

Thirdly, stating that TCD was the centre of Anglo-Irish elitism up until recently (or perhaps it still is?) seems redundant and is neither specific to the Irish context (there are few of any societies which had universities of the nature of Trinity which facilitated entry from lower social classes; until recently (and excepting socialist/communist countries) access to university would have seen even the emerging lower middle-classes excluded from the "ivory towers". Perhaps this referred elitism suggests the exclusion of one religion, namely, the Irish Catholics? But the exclusion of Catholics was a prohibition, on pain of excommunication , issued by the Irish Catholic hierarchy. Catholics who chose to ignore the prohibition (and there were many) attended and graduated just as easily as any other person who could afford the fees. So the "elitism" reference seems either redundant, specifically unfair to TCD or inaccurate and at least warrants an edit/review.

I'm not fully decided how or if to mention the "Sally Rooney" entry.

Francis Neary (talk) 11:15, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

Also, what does "The university was also involved in the First World War,[51] noticeably in the Defence of Gallipoli at the Dardanelles.[52][53][54]"

The suggestion here is that the University (and not an alum or former staff-member or academic) was involved in this campaign. Also, if the Ottomans were defending against an Entente landing, could the reader be forgiven for coming to the conclusion, incorrectly, that TCD (as opposed to individuals connect d with it) were actually fighting on the side of the Ottomans in WWI? Francis Neary (talk) 11:34, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

It is unfortunate that the article makes no mention of Cassels Tower, the enormous Bell Tower that was a precursor to today's much smaller Campanile. Constructed between 1740 and 1746 in the Palladian style, it was torn down in the late 18th century since its sheer scale was viewed as architecturally unstable. Cassels Tower is clearly visible in Francis Wheatley's painting, 'The Dublin Volunteers on College Green, 4th November 1779'. It might be an idea to include Wheatley's painting with a brief description of this structure. Though short-lived, it seems an important component of Trinity's heritage. ~2026-13581-46 (talk) 20:41, 2 March 2026 (UTC)