Trinity College renames library after poet Eavan Boland

The main library at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has been renamed after Irish poet Eavan Boland.

It will be the first building on Trinity's campus to be named after a woman.

The decision was announced today following a meeting of the University Board.

The library, formerly known as the George Berkeley Library, was denamed in April 2023 because the renowned Irish philosopher was also a slave owner and what was described as "an apologist for slavery".

At the time, TCD said the use of Mr Berkeley’s name on its main library was inconsistent with the university's core values of human dignity, freedom, inclusivity and equality.

The move to name the building in honour of Eavan Boland follows a period of research, analysis and public consultation overseen by the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group (TLRWG).

During a public consultation, 855 submissions were made.

The working group identified several options for consideration, with the renaming of the building as the Eavan Boland Library their preferred recommendation to the board.

The poet, who died in 2020, was one of the foremost women in Irish literature, publishing many collections of poetry as well as teaching and lecturing in Ireland and in the US.

Born in Dublin in 1944, Eavan Boland spent some early years in London and New York, returning to Ireland to attend secondary school in Killiney and later university at Trinity.

As well as being a student, she was later a lecturer at the university.

The Provost of TCD said it is a "fitting recognition of Eavan Boland’s poetic genius that our main library, used by so many students and staff, will now carry her name".

Dr Linda Doyle said: "Eavan’s poetry is well-known across the generations, and her outstanding artistic contribution to highlighting the role of women in Irish society is widely appreciated.

"I want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in the process that has led us to today’s decision. It was marked by broad consultation and very thoughtful conversations."

Professor Eoin O Sullivan, Senior Dean and Chair of the TLRWG, said the group arrived at this point because of "the hard work and conviction of many people in Trinity’s community, not least the students who not only called for a change in the Library’s name, but who worked with us to achieve that change".

"We are grateful for the 855 submissions from within Trinity and outside which animated our deliberations and reflections on the matter," he added.

TCD said it will continue to hold George Berkeley’s philosophical works in the library collections and continue to teach and research his works.