Irish attraction popular with US tourists closes 'indefinitely' due to student protests
One of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions has closed due to ongoing protests by students over the war in Gaza.
Visitors have been unable to access the entrance to the Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin since the beginning of the weekend, when students set up an encampment outside of the building.
Nearly 100 protestors piled benches outside of the building’s door and vowed to maintain the blockade until the university severs its ties with Israel.
The most contentious are investments by the Trinity Endowment Fund in three Israeli companies that are on the United Nations Human Rights Council’s blacklist.
The Book of Kells, a treasured manuscript from 800 AD, attracts more than half a million visitors to Trinity College every year, including many US tourists.
More than 70 tents remained outside of the attraction on Sunday. The university has cancelled its tours through Tuesday and said that ticket holders would be refunded.
Access to the campus has been restricted to students and staff and ID checks are in place.
Protest leader Laszlo Molnarfi, the current president of the university’s student union, said the group planned to stay on the campus “indefinitely”.
Wooden benches piled in front of the door to the Book of Kells
“Our message is there is no business as usual during a genocide,” he told the PA news agency. “When our academic institution has ties to Israeli companies, entities and universities that are complicit in the war industry, we must speak up.
“That is why we are doing this. And we must speak up in this disruptive, powerful way. Because when we tried to engage with the authorities, with petitions and letters and meetings, we were met with shameful silence.”
The union was issued a fine of over $230,000 for campus protests this week. Molnarfi said that the ongoing rallies at US universities inspired the current demonstration.
“Student movements in the US have been absolutely inspiring,” he said.
In a statement, Trinity said it supported the rights of students but that the encampment was “unauthorised”. It claimed that the portfolio of companies included in its endowment fund were picked by investment managers and that work was being done to update it.
A university spokesperson said: “While Trinity supports students’ right to protest, protests must be conducted within the rules of the university.
“To ensure safety, access to campus is restricted to students, staff, residents and Department of Sports Members with college ID cards only. As custodians of the Book of Kells, Trinity has an obligation to protect this national treasure at all times.”
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