Trinity College remains closed to public ‘until Gaza protesters’ demands met’

The entrance from Nassau Street was locked, and at the main entrance from College Green signs were erected to tell the public that the college was closed for reasons out of its control, and that people who had pre-booked visits to the Book of Kells would get a full refund.

Students defended barricading the Book of Kells exhibition indefinitely, saying it was the only way to get a reaction from the college.

Crowds gather in support of Trinity students' Books of Kells blockade

They started a full-time occupation on the front lawn of the college, pitching more than 40 tents overnight on Friday in a similar style to the demonstrations seen on college campuses in the United States in recent weeks, and pulled wooden benches to the entrance of the country’s best-known cultural artefact before barricading the doors.

The occupation, which the students say will continue until TCD severs ties with Israel, is a significant escalation after relations between the university and the students’ union worsened last week.

Last week the students’ union president Laszlo Molnarfi revealed TCD authorities had sent a letter informing the union and its officers that they were being fined €214,000 over campus protests blocking the Book of Kells exhibition, which is a major tourist draw.

Those protests focused mainly on calling on the university to row back from a proposed increase in postgraduate fees, while the encampment, in place since Friday evening, is focusing on investments it has in Israeli entities and medical research links Trinity has with Israeli academics and institutions.

TCD warned that the union officers were personally liable for the fine, and they would not be allowed to graduate without paying it.

In a statement following the latest protest, Trinity said that it “supports students’ right to protest within the rules of the university” but it said “access to campus is restricted to students, staff and residents with college ID”.

It said it had take this course of action so to ensure that those protesting on campus are members of the college community.

“We have not made this decision lightly,” it said.

“Regrettably, this will have a direct impact on our students and staff.

“Our libraries, sports centre, Book of Kells Experience, Old Library and the Pavilion Bar have been closed until further notice, while sports fixtures, a concert and social events have been cancelled, postponed or moved to another venue.”

In its statement, TCD said: "Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by the people participating in the encampment protest and blockade, and we support the right to peaceful protest.

"There are also, however, many good reasons why the university's policies, including health and safety, dignity and respect must be followed when doing so.

"Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount. In order to ensure we can deliver on that duty of care for our students, we are ensuring that those protesting on campus are members of the college community, so access to campus has been restricted to students and staff with valid college ID cards only. We have not made this decision lightly."

The university added: "Trinity shares concerns about the ferocious onslaught in Gaza and the ongoing dire humanitarian crisis. We have taken a number of practical steps in response to the war in Gaza. These range from updating our investment portfolio with a view to excluding UN blacklist companies, to providing supports for students from Gaza coming to study in Trinity.

"Trinity is always open to engaging with staff and students on these issues: in the past week alone, the provost has met with Academics for Palestine and also with the Students' Union president and Students' Union officers to discuss these issues. We also continue to engage with our Jewish staff and students who are impacted."

Trinity said it was responding to the war in Gaza in several ways, including the work to update its investment portfolio in line with a UN blacklist of companies.

In regard to ties with Israeli institutions, Trinity said it was for its academics to make their own decisions about what universities they collaborate with, insisting it would not impinge on that "cornerstone" of academic freedom.

Outgoing students' union president Mr Molnarfi said the size of the camp continued to grow, with around 100 people and 70 tents as of Sunday.

He said they were committed to maintaining the blockade of the Book of Kells until the university severed all ties with Israel.

"The Book of Kells is blockaded, there's absolutely no tourism and we're staying there," he said.

"So, I think this is putting a lot of student and staff pressure on them (the university authorities)."

Mr Molnarfi said, as of Sunday afternoon, university officials had yet to reach out to those taking part in the protest since it began.

He said there was a lot of energy in the encampment.

"People are very confident," he said.

"There is board games and guitar and political discussions and music and food.

"It's a nice community that's been built. So people are feeling very confident."

The Labour party has expressed solidarity with those taking part in the protest.

"The students of Trinity College Dublin are rightly protesting against Trinity's financial investments in Israeli companies and links to Israeli institutions," Labour senator Annie Hoey said.

Ms Hoey added: "The students have protested these issues consistently, and by Trinity's rules, for the past number of months but there has been little response or action taken.

"Protest that does not cause an interruption or nuisance for the university have been ignored. It is right for the students to escalate their protest."

In an online statement, TCD provost Linda Doyle said the college’s links to Israeli companies are not “hand-picked” by Trinity, but generated by our investment managers.

“Trinity has an endowment fund which includes investment in a portfolio of companies.

“The individual companies in this portfolio are not hand-picked by Trinity. As we learn more, we [will] find better ways to refine our portfolio.”

Students want the college to promise no increase in one-year Masters’ fees, and instead introduce a €2 price hike on tickets to the Book of Kells to pay for operations at the college, which they believe will net €1m in revenue.

Trinity College is heavily reliant on the income generated by tourists ­visiting the Book of Kells.

Tickets to visit the Book of Kells cost €18.50. In 2022, the exhibition, along with income from the Old Library shop and guided tours, brought in €16.7m.