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The Long Room of the Old Library, Trinity College Dublin
The Long Room of the Old Library, Trinity College Dublin. Diliff, CC BY-SA 4.0
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The Long Room of the Old Library, Trinity College Dublin. Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Long_Room_Interior,_Trinity_College_Dublin,_Ireland_-_Diliff.jpg
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Long Room, Trinity College

Dublin, Ireland, 1712–32

Open to visitors; Old Library closes late 2027, reopening expected 2030

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Conservation watch · 2027–2030

Old Library redevelopment and Long Room decant

The Old Library and Long Room are expected to close to the public during works, with the Book of Kells moving to the Printing House in late 2027 and completion expected in 2030. Source and current schedule

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The record

Worth knowing

  • Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: Henry George Quin left 110 books with a bookcase for them and orders that their bindings were never to be altered.

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: Henry George Quin left 110 books with a bookcase for them and orders that their bindings were never to be altered.
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/collections.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-08mzju6
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: In 1689 James II's troops used Trinity College as a barracks and prison, but the library came through largely unharmed.

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: In 1689 James II's troops used Trinity College as a barracks and prison, but the library came through largely unharmed.
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-19dz870
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: In 1802 around 20,000 books and manuscripts of Hendrik Fagel, chief minister of the Netherlands, were bought for the college.

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: In 1802 around 20,000 books and manuscripts of Hendrik Fagel, chief minister of the Netherlands, were bought for the college.
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0iijqq4
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: The Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow reached the library as a gift from Henry Jones, a pupil of Archbishop Ussher.

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: The Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow reached the library as a gift from Henry Jones, a pupil of Archbishop Ussher.
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/collections.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0hts74l
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: The alcoves once held benches and sloping desks for readers. In 1817 the seats and tables were removed to make room for more shelves.

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: The alcoves once held benches and sloping desks for readers. In 1817 the seats and tables were removed to make room for more shelves.
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-12722hb
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: The sandstone on the upper floors of the new library crumbled within decades and was later replaced with granite.

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, worth knowing: The sandstone on the upper floors of the new library crumbled within decades and was later replaced with granite.
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-1238luv
    Dispute#

Built

  • Long Room, Trinity College, built: 1712-1732 (foundation stone May 1712; finished 1732; ready for use end of 1733)

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, built: 1712-1732 (foundation stone May 1712; finished 1732; ready for use end of 1733)
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-1r7x3cy
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, built: Irish Commons petitioned for funds in 1709

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, built: Irish Commons petitioned for funds in 1709
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-04roha1
    Dispute#

Architect

  • Long Room, Trinity College, architect: Thomas Burgh (1670-1730)

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, architect: Thomas Burgh (1670-1730)
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-02cmvh2
    Dispute#

Size

  • Long Room, Trinity College, size: length: 63.7 m

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, size: length: 63.7 m
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0ur64pu
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, size: width: 12.2 m

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, size: width: 12.2 m
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0wc0t7f
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, size: Height 14.2 m (current, with barrel vault)

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, size: Height 14.2 m (current, with barrel vault)
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-1mopt48
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, size: original height: about 15 m (pre-1860, flat plaster ceiling)

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, size: original height: about 15 m (pre-1860, flat plaster ceiling)
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0o369ri
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, size: alcoves: 40 in total (each about 2,000 books)

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, size: alcoves: 40 in total (each about 2,000 books)
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0dnzecc
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, size: 65 m long

    wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, size: 65 m long
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Trinity_College_Dublin
Evidence tier: wikipedia
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0gldtfk
    Dispute#

Volumes

  • Long Room, Trinity College, volumes: 200,000 of the oldest books in the Long Room; Old Library 350,000 early printed books + 20,000 manuscript/archive collections

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, volumes: 200,000 of the oldest books in the Long Room; Old Library 350,000 early printed books + 20,000 manuscript/archive collections
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/old-library/
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-118rrf8
    Dispute#

Collection

  • Long Room, Trinity College, collection: Brian Boru harp on display — the oldest surviving Gaelic harp in Ireland (medieval, probably 15th century)

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, collection: Brian Boru harp on display — the oldest surviving Gaelic harp in Ireland (medieval, probably 15th century)
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/old-library/long-room/
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-060sdx9
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, collection: One of the few surviving copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, read outside the GPO at the Easter Rising

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, collection: One of the few surviving copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, read outside the GPO at the Easter Rising
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/old-library/long-room/
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0yh23fs
    Dispute#

  • Long Room, Trinity College, collection: Four female marble busts added 2023 — Rosalind Franklin, Augusta Gregory, Ada Lovelace, Mary Wollstonecraft — first new busts in over a century

    wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, collection: Four female marble busts added 2023 — Rosalind Franklin, Augusta Gregory, Ada Lovelace, Mary Wollstonecraft — first new busts in over a century
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Library,_Trinity_College_Dublin
Evidence tier: wikipedia
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-0pcppvs
    Dispute#

Status today

  • Long Room, Trinity College, status today: No public access to Old Library and Long Room during works; Book of Kells moves to Printing House late 2027; works expected finished 2030

    secondaryuniversitytimes.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, status today: No public access to Old Library and Long Room during works; Book of Kells moves to Printing House late 2027; works expected finished 2030
Source: https://universitytimes.ie/2026/03/printing-house-restored-to-house-book-of-kells/
Evidence tier: secondary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#f-17d7hxk
    Dispute#

What happened here

  1. 1712Long Room, Trinity College, built, 1712: Foundation stone May 1712; library finished 1732; in use end of 1733

    primarytcd.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, built, 1712: Foundation stone May 1712; library finished 1732; in use end of 1733
Source: https://www.tcd.ie/library/exhibitions/choicebooks/newlibrary.php
Evidence tier: primary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#e-1jhshxh
    Dispute#

  2. 2027Long Room, Trinity College, closed, 2027: Old Library and Long Room close to public for restoration (Kells moves late 2027); works expected done 2030

    secondaryuniversitytimes.ie
    Cite
    Long Room, Trinity College, closed, 2027: Old Library and Long Room close to public for restoration (Kells moves late 2027); works expected done 2030
Source: https://universitytimes.ie/2026/03/printing-house-restored-to-house-book-of-kells/
Evidence tier: secondary
Last checked: 2026-11-11
WorldLibs: https://worldlibs.pages.dev/libraries/longroom/#e-1i96f9v
    Dispute#

Photographs

The Long Room looking along the barrel vault
The Long Room looking along the barrel vault. Rafesmar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Use this photo
The Long Room looking along the barrel vault. Photo: Rafesmar, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Condado_de_Dubl%C3%ADn_-_Long_Room-Trinity_College_-_20170826100034.jpg
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The Long Room with busts along the alcoves
The Long Room with busts along the alcoves. Beyourbest2, CC BY-SA 4.0
Use this photo
The Long Room with busts along the alcoves. Photo: Beyourbest2, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Dublin_-_Long_Room-Trinity_College_-_20161209101035.jpg
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The barrel-vaulted ceiling of the Long Room
The barrel-vaulted ceiling of the Long Room. Rob Hurson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Use this photo
The barrel-vaulted ceiling of the Long Room. Photo: Rob Hurson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trinity_College_Long_Room_ceiling.jpg
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The Old Library from Fellows' Square, Trinity College Dublin
The Old Library from Fellows' Square, Trinity College Dublin. User:Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Use this photo
The Old Library from Fellows' Square, Trinity College Dublin. Photo: User:Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TrinityCollege_Green.JPG
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The long stone front of the Old Library building at Trinity College Dublin, seen across the lawn under a blue sky.
The long stone front of the Old Library building at Trinity College Dublin, seen across the lawn under a blue sky.. Patrick Theiner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Use this photo
The long stone front of the Old Library building at Trinity College Dublin, seen across the lawn under a blue sky.. Photo: Patrick Theiner, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trinity_college_library.jpg
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The Old Library building at Trinity College Dublin, seen across Library Square
The Old Library building at Trinity College Dublin, seen across Library Square. Patrick Theiner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Use this photo
The Old Library building at Trinity College Dublin, seen across Library Square. Photo: Patrick Theiner, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trinity_college_library.jpg
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Books from this library

Sources