TCD students blockade Book of Kells in protest over rising accommodation costs

Michael Bolton

Trinity College Dublin is refunding visitors who were had booked tickets to see the Book of Kells following the entrance blocked due to a protest.

Tourists are unable to see the Book of Kells in Dublin's Trinity College due to a student blockade.

A number of members of the university's students' union are blocking the entrance to the Long Room to protest against the cost of rent.

Trinity's Students' Union is protesting successive increases in the price of on-campus student accomodation, which has gone up by 2 per cent this year.

Around 30 students have blocked the entry to the tourist attraction, with placards stating “students not cash cows” and “freeze rent”.

In a statement, the college’s student union said that Trinity College “make €10 million a year” from their student accommodation, adding “if they take money from the students, then the students will take money from college, by blockading one of Trinity’s most profitable attractions”.

In a statement, Trinity College Dublin says The Old Library remains inaccessible to the public and all customers with pre-booked tickets will be refunded in full.