Trinity College, College Green
Founded by Elizabeth I in 1592, it covers an area of 40 acres. Many of Ireland’s famous literary figures including Swift, Wilde and Beckett all attended Trinity as lecturers or pupils. Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland and it is a popular tourist attraction as well as a university for almost 10,000 students. The library in Trinity College holds Ireland’s largest collection of books and manuscripts including the world famous Book of Kells. The campus is a complex of many unique buildings, the most interesting of which are the Printing House, dating back to 1740, and the Dining Hall which was destroyed by fire in 1984. The east chapel was destroyed in another fire. Both have since been restored.