Junior Common Room

Very large historical library with a storied past. The library itself is beautiful in its own right with alcoves, a second story, and spiral staircases on either end. Lining the length of the library to either side and posted at the end of the dividers to the alcoves are busts of various historical figures who have supported the college over time. Dominating the view of the library is "Gaia", a large, illuminated globe that is spinning. Our friends debated whether it added or took away from the overall aesthetic of the space. Down the middle are display cases with old maps, library artifacts, the Brian Boru harp, and the Proclamation of the Irish Republic A truly awesome room, a library any school would be envious of. For us the sight was slightly diminished due to the majority of books having been removed for restoration. If you want to view the library, your time is limited as it is due to be closed starting in 2027 for the final phases of updating and to be reopened in 2030.

Inspiring. They had 200,000 books when it was full. However most of the books were removed due to required renovations.

My visit to the Trinity Long Room in Ireland was an awesome experience! 200,000 of the oldest books of the Trinity Library are housed in the Long Room along with busts of philosophers, writers and other historical people of the college. A very old historical harp from the 14th century, known as the Brian Baru, is housed here as well. There is also a very large and beautiful illuminated globe hanging in the Long Room. I highly recommend a visit to the Trinity Long Room when you are in Dublin Ireland.

We took “The Book Of Kells” tour at Trinity College, Cork and found it inspiring. The video & audio recording describes how the monks created and hid the sacred books from the Vikings. We were only limited to two pages on display in a dark room, but the gallery description of the books does a fine job. The “Long Room” was the highlight of the experience with thousands of books, beautiful barreled wood ceiling. Highly recommend attending.

A Magical Blend of History and Technology Visiting the Long Room at Trinity College was already on our must-see list, but experiencing it with XR technology took it to a whole new level. We were completely blown away by how history came to life through a virtual Jonathan Swift, guiding us through the breathtaking library as if he had stepped out of the past just for us. The choice between an immersive VR tour or an AR-enhanced real visit was fantastic. The VR simulation made us feel like we were inside the Long Room, even when we weren’t physically there, while the AR option let us interact with history right on our phones. The level of detail—from the towering bookshelves to the rare artifacts—was incredible. What impressed us most was how seamlessly history and technology were combined. This wasn’t just a cool tech demo; it felt like a meaningful way to experience and preserve cultural heritage. We left feeling inspired, entertained, and with a newfound appreciation for both the past and the future of storytelling. If you love history, books, or just unique experiences, this is something you absolutely have to try!