Trinity College Dublin has officially renamed its former Berkeley Library after the late poet Eavan Boland. The decision was driven by a shared commitment among students and staff to no longer commemorate Bishop George Berkeley, a known slave owner.
At a ceremony on Monday night, Boland’s friend and fellow writer Paula Meehan called the renaming a “magnificent gesture,” ensuring that Boland’s name “will outlive all of us.” Boland is now the first woman to have a public building at Trinity named in her honor.
Bishop George Berkeley (1685–1753), a Kilkenny-born philosopher and theologian, was once celebrated as a leading intellectual of his time. However, his legacy has been reevaluated due to his documented ownership of enslaved people during his years in America.
Trinity College Chancellor Mary McAleese, who helped unveil the plaque, said the renaming is part of the university’s effort to confront its colonial history. She linked the decision to other steps Trinity has taken, such as the 2023 return of 13 skulls to Inishbofin after more than a century.
The event also marked the opening of two exhibitions at the library: one showcasing Boland’s life and work, and another detailing the process of renaming the building. The name change was first announced in October 2023.
The push to remove Berkeley’s name stemmed from student activism, influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement and similar social justice efforts. In 2023, the University Board ruled that honoring Berkeley was “inconsistent with the university’s core values of human dignity, freedom, inclusivity, and equality.” A public consultation followed, managed by Trinity’s legacies review working group.
In a letter to The Irish Times, McAleese and over 50 poets, writers, and academics urged Trinity to establish a permanent exhibition on Boland’s contributions, calling her one of the university’s most distinguished graduates.
The review process drew more than 860 name suggestions for the library, reflecting a broad spectrum of ideas. Among them were historical figures like Peig Sayers and Queen Elizabeth I, contemporary figures like actor Paul Mescal, and humorous entries such as “Library McLibraryface” and the “Snowflake Library.”
Not all agreed with the decision to remove Berkeley’s name. David McConnell, Fellow Emeritus in Genetics, argued that erasing his name contradicted Trinity’s educational mission, which values intellectual contributions regardless of personal failings. He maintained that Berkeley remains one of Trinity’s most enduring academic figures.
Despite the name change in Dublin, Berkeley’s legacy remains in California, where the city and university named in his honor continue to stand. The institutions were inspired by his poem, Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, reflecting 19th-century admiration for his work.
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