President Catherine Connolly joins celebrations of 250 years of modern languages at Trinity
Posted on: 09 October 2026
President of Ireland Catherine Connolly joined celebrations to mark 250 years of the study and teaching of modern languages at Trinity College Dublin.
On 29 September 1776, Trinity was the first university in Ireland and the UK to introduce the study of modern continental languages when it appointed Chairs in French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Speaking at the event yesterday evening, President Catherine Connolly said: "A Chairde Uaisle, tá mé thar a bheith sásta a bheith i bhur gcomhluadar i gColáiste na Tríonóide tráthnóna agus comóradh á dhéanamh agaibh ar dhá chéad caoga bliain ó bunaíodh Ollúnachtaí anseo sa Fhraincis, Gearmáinis, Spáinnis agus Iodáilis.
"Is ócáid fíor-spéisiúil atá á ceiliúradh agaibh, a chairde, agus stair an ilteangachais á plé agaibh. Tá sé suntasach go raibh an tír seo i bhfad chun cinn ar thíortha eile agus aitheantas tugtha do theangacha eachtracha anseo 133 bliain sula ndearna fiú ollscoil Oxford é.
"One particularly beautiful aspect of language learning is that it invites us into another culture, allowing us to get to know, and crucially, to care about, its people and history. This special bond, that requires commitment and time, develops and endures throughout a lifetime – a profoundly human process of connection that AI can never reproduce.
"In a world where language has been debased, stripped of meaning and reduced to its utilitarian functions, reclaiming the beauty of languages, in all their diversity, is an act of resistance, and a crucial first step in celebrating and championing our wonderfully diverse humanity."
Provost of Trinity Dr Linda Doyle responded: “It is fitting that we are celebrating this milestone. Two hundred and fifty years ago, Trinity recognised the value of studying modern languages to equip students to engage with a wider world.
“That outward-looking spirit remains as vital as ever. The study of languages exposes us to new ideas, broadens horizons, and encourages us to think differently about ourselves and about others. In celebrating this anniversary, we honour a tradition that has shaped Trinity for 250 years and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring it continues to enrich the experience of future generations of students.”
The evening celebration was the highlight of a year of celebrations marking the historic milestone. Earlier in the day the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies hosted the 2026 Hely-Hutchinson Memorial Lectures.
These lectures honour the memory of Provost John Hely-Hutchinson who in 1776 established the Chairs in Modern Languages (German, French, Spanish and Italian), motivated by his desire to equip college graduates with language skills for foreign travel and cultural engagement. This year’s lectures were delivered by Yves Citton, Professor in Literature and Media at the Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint Denis, and German poet Ulrike Draesner, and members of the Hely-Hutchinson family were in attendance.
Michael Cronin, Chair of French 1776, added: “For over 250 years, modern languages have contributed to every area of Irish life and culture. President Connolly's participation in our celebrations is a powerful endorsement of the role modern languages play in bringing fresh perspectives and ideas into society, promoting flourishing economic and trade relationships, and allowing for greater social cohesion through the promotion of understanding between different languages and cultures.
“Modern languages remain a vital part of Ireland's changing identity. They continue to bring the world to Ireland in the same way as they bring Ireland to the world.”
Today, Friday the 9th October, the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, is hosting a conference entitled Modern Languages in Irish Life: 1776–2026 and beyond to explore how foreign languages have impacted all aspects of Irish life, and a publication is forthcoming in Spring 2027.
Across the day 14 papers will be delivered on modern languages in Ireland and their impact on topics ranging from food, music and literature to medicine, law and politics. See the full programme here.
Media Contact:
Fiona Tyrrell | Media Relations | tyrrellf@tcd.ie | +353 1 896 3551