0:00
0:00
Trinity College Dublin Honors Eavan Boland by Naming a Building After Her, Signifying a Landmark Achievement
In a historic move for its 433-year existence, Trinity College Dublin has renamed a building to commemorate the legacy of the esteemed poet Eavan Boland, marking the first time a building is named after a woman.
Trinity College Dublin, the oldest university in Ireland, established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, has officially renamed one of its primary libraries to pay tribute to the esteemed Irish poet Eavan Boland.
This is the first occasion in the institution's 433-year existence that a building has been named after a woman, breaking from the long-standing practice of naming buildings solely after men.
Boland is celebrated for her notable contributions to literature, especially for highlighting the experiences of women within Irish society through her poetry.
Eavan Boland has been recognized for bringing attention to women's roles and stories that are frequently overlooked in the literary canon.
She also held the position of director of creative writing at Stanford University in California for over twenty years.
In reference to the renaming, Mary Robinson, Ireland's first female president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, commented on Boland's impact: "Eavan Boland's poetry helped to weave women back into the fabric of history."
The library, which previously bore the name of philosopher George Berkeley, associated with slave ownership despite his philosophical contributions, faced criticism after the global Black Lives Matter movement gained traction following George Floyd's death in 2020. Students and community members of Trinity College Dublin advocated for the renaming as Berkeley's legacy was seen as misaligned with the university’s values of human dignity, freedom, and equality.
In light of the demand for change, the university received 855 public proposals to rename the library in Boland’s honor, as noted by Professor Eoin O. Sullivan, Senior Dean and Chair of the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group.
Helen Shenton, the Librarian and College Archivist at Trinity College Dublin, remarked that the newly designated Eavan Boland Library will function as an "inclusive and inspirational space for generations of students to come," thus enhancing Boland's scholarly and feminist legacy.
The New York Times Book Review has recognized Eavan Boland as "Ireland's leading feminist poet." In addition, Professor Gerardine Meaney from University College Dublin pointed out that Boland’s literary contributions continue the legacy of the late Nobel Prize laureate Seamus Heaney.
Poet and author Theo Dorgan emphasized that Boland's work redefined the depiction of women’s experiences in Irish poetry, with her 1982 collection, Night Feed, particularly focusing on themes of everyday life, such as motherhood and domestic responsibilities.
The timeline for the installation of outdoor signage prominently featuring Boland's name has yet to be determined.
However, a ceremony for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque is planned for March 10.
This is the first occasion in the institution's 433-year existence that a building has been named after a woman, breaking from the long-standing practice of naming buildings solely after men.
Boland is celebrated for her notable contributions to literature, especially for highlighting the experiences of women within Irish society through her poetry.
Eavan Boland has been recognized for bringing attention to women's roles and stories that are frequently overlooked in the literary canon.
She also held the position of director of creative writing at Stanford University in California for over twenty years.
In reference to the renaming, Mary Robinson, Ireland's first female president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, commented on Boland's impact: "Eavan Boland's poetry helped to weave women back into the fabric of history."
The library, which previously bore the name of philosopher George Berkeley, associated with slave ownership despite his philosophical contributions, faced criticism after the global Black Lives Matter movement gained traction following George Floyd's death in 2020. Students and community members of Trinity College Dublin advocated for the renaming as Berkeley's legacy was seen as misaligned with the university’s values of human dignity, freedom, and equality.
In light of the demand for change, the university received 855 public proposals to rename the library in Boland’s honor, as noted by Professor Eoin O. Sullivan, Senior Dean and Chair of the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group.
Helen Shenton, the Librarian and College Archivist at Trinity College Dublin, remarked that the newly designated Eavan Boland Library will function as an "inclusive and inspirational space for generations of students to come," thus enhancing Boland's scholarly and feminist legacy.
The New York Times Book Review has recognized Eavan Boland as "Ireland's leading feminist poet." In addition, Professor Gerardine Meaney from University College Dublin pointed out that Boland’s literary contributions continue the legacy of the late Nobel Prize laureate Seamus Heaney.
Poet and author Theo Dorgan emphasized that Boland's work redefined the depiction of women’s experiences in Irish poetry, with her 1982 collection, Night Feed, particularly focusing on themes of everyday life, such as motherhood and domestic responsibilities.
The timeline for the installation of outdoor signage prominently featuring Boland's name has yet to be determined.
However, a ceremony for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque is planned for March 10.
