For many who left school in the northside Dublin of the early 1980’s third level education was not that fashionable.

It was an option however the trend was more to just get a job and start earning a crust.

As My Good Self duly did.

As such it was many years before I came to appreciate Trinity College. For a long time it came across to me as something of a high brow, exclusive institution reserved for those who resided south of the Liffey and who had plenty of disposable income to boot.

These days however, all is changed and changed utterly as Trinity currently has programmes in place to welcome students from all corners of the city and globe.

On the go since 1592, Trinity is Ireland’s oldest university.

To enter the currently closed wooden main entrance doors of Trinity College on College Green is to be transported from the hustle and bustle of city life to a world of tranquility, history, learning and beauty.

Trinity College is, amongst many other things, a thing of beauty.

To enter the courtyard, in a virtual sense, I am reminded of happy graduation days that I occasionally happened upon when walking through the grounds, and also of an outdoor performance of Shakespeares ‘A midsummers night dream’ that I attended there some years ago.

Ambling along the northside towards an area of live-in accommodation I recall a pleasant evening with The Brain and other friends in one of the campus apartments.

The Samuel Beckett Theatre is also down this way.

Over at the eastern end near the Lincoln Place entrance is where much significant research continues to take place in the world of eye disease.

Retirning up the southern side along by Nassau Street, I pass the Pavilion Bar and the sports grounds.

Coming back around towards the courtyard I pass The Old Library building, home to The Long Room and the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s leading tourist attractions.

And so ends my beginners guide to Trinity College.

To those of my readers who have the great honour of being Trinity alumni, and there are a few, I do beg leniency when it comes to judging my few words on your treasured Trinity. I am fully aware that I have omitted much.

All I can say is that Trinity College is a ‘bucket list’ item for any visitor to Dublin.

And it is number one on that list.