Culture
13 Sep 23

Trinity students blockade Book Of Kells entrance in response to rising accomodation costs

Trinity College, Dublin - photo credit: Ajay Suresh on flickr

Trinity College Dublin has raised the cost of their student accomodation by 2pc- despite many students struggling with the housing crisis and rising living costs.

Students from Trinity College Dublin are blockading the entrance to The Book of Kells, as part of a ‘Freeze the Rents’ housing protest.

“Enough is enough,” read an Instagram story posted by the TCDSU. “Trinity has raised the cost of accommodation by 2%, the maximum allowed as per Rent Pressure Zone legislation.”

If Trinity is going to make money from students, we are going to hit them where it hurts by blockading its largest tourist attraction”.

The demonstration is due to continue until 5pm today.

We've blockaded the Book of Kells @tcddublin and will be here until 5pm in response to Trinity's unaffordable rents and constant rent increases. Come out to support! pic.twitter.com/KzvLuFFFOY

— László Molnárfi (SU) (@TCDSU_President) September 13, 2023

“According to their 2022 financial report, Trinity has made 10.5 million euro from on-campus accommodation,” read a separate statement from the Trinity’s Student Union.

“Student services continue to remain underfunded, there are no period products readily available, and the high student-staff ratio means the quality of our education is negatively impacted.”

Students should not be bearing the brunt of the costs of education, why does Trinity remain complicit in the government’s views to treat education as a luxury, not a right?”

The protest has annoyed tourists who had planned to visit the world famous Book of Kells this morning – with one individual telling the protesting students his family was on, “our first holiday in ten years” (via Newstalk).

“The Old Library of Trinity College Dublin and @BookOfKellsTCD are currently not accessible to the public,” said Trinity College on social media. “We will provide further updates as needed. All customers with prebooked tickets will be refunded in full. We apologise for the disruption.”

The Old Library of Trinity College Dublin and @BookOfKellsTCD are currently not accessible to the public.
We will provide further updates as needed. All customers with prebooked tickets will be refunded in full.
We apologise for the disruption. pic.twitter.com/MdKbegfsn8

— Trinity College Dublin (@tcddublin) September 13, 2023