Ongoing student demonstrations against Trinity College Dublin’s (TCD) connections with Israel have resulted in the continued closure of the Book of Kells and strict limits on public access to the TCD campus. Students formed a makeshift camp on Fellow’s Square last Friday, insisting they will persevere until their demands are met.
Following their actions, TCD restricted campus access to individuals bearing valid college identification, and libraries and the sports centre remain shut indefinitely to ensure safety. An official spokesperson for TCD affirmed the Book of Kells will continue to be closed on Tuesday, and those who had arranged visits in advance will be reimbursed.
Only staff, students, and residents can access the campus, the spokesperson clarified, and the scene remains unaltered. The protest area expanded to contain around 50 tents on Saturday morning, growing further to exceed 70 by Sunday, according to demonstrators. Sporadic negotiations between protesting students and the university administration are underway, with continuous discussions happening in recent months.
This demonstration was precipitated by a hefty €214,000 fine handed down to the TCD students’ union (TCDSU) for financial damages caused by disruptive protests over the past year. The punitive measure was met with backlash from students, staff, and some lawmakers, who decried it as a harmful precedent and an attempt to quash student dissent.
Outgoing TCDSU president László Molnárfi announced the union’s intention not to pay the fine, accusing the university of waging a war on students. “This blunt intimidation and attempt to silence and threaten students will not be successful. They’re imposing this fine because our power frightens them,” he claimed.
Molnárfi hinted at legal moves to contest the fine—unless it’s rescinded—with the understanding that the union wouldn’t defy a court order. Until then, every plausible route to resist the fine will be pursued. Speaking on Newstalk radio on Sunday, the outgoing president indicated that public support for their cause was incredibly encouraging, with solidarity expressed by students worldwide.
Senator Annie Hoey, Labour’s spokesperson for higher and further education, has expressed her support for the ongoing student protest and sit-in.
“The students have been persistently voicing their concern over these matters, all within the regulations set by Trinity, for months on end without getting a significant response or decisive action,” she stated. “Protests that do not disrupt or inconvenience the university have been overlooked. It is reasonable for the students to intensify their demonstrations.
“It is crucial that we stand together with the students of Trinity College Dublin in this issue. They are carrying the weight of this cause, and it’s about time our universities cease playing a part in genocide.”
Despite the university grounds being off-limits to non-staff and students, MEP Clare Daly managed to enter and address demonstrators this past Saturday.
A video shared by Ms Daly on X, previously known as Twitter, sees her praising the protesters, calling them “a true beacon of inspiration.” She added that they are embodying what “every individual across Europe” should ideally be doing.