A chara, – If you start applying the rules of today to the past, where do you stop? (“Trinity College to ‘dename’ library due to slavery link”, News, April 27th).
For example, take the “Kindred Spirits” sculpture in Midleton, Cork, which commemorates the $170 donated by the Choctaw Nation to Ireland during the Famine.
The 1860 Federal census shows that the Choctaw owned 2,298 black slaves, with one Choctaw owning 230. Trading in slaves was highly profitable, and is where the $170 came from.
So, should the sculpture be removed, “denamed” or should a “retain and explain” strategy be adopted? Or is it possible for people, in particular those in a university, to accept that it is not all simple. – Is mise,
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DAVE SLATER,
Kilkea,
Kildare.
Sir, – When I attended Trinity College in the 1970s and 1980s, we referred to the libraries as the Old Library, the New Library, and the most recent library as the New New Library. A simple naming system, but occasionally prone to confusion. Naming libraries after distinguished historical figures such as Berkeley and Ussher helped to clarify matters. The university, having now cancelled the name of Berkeley the philosopher and slave owner, should consider whether the name Ussher is appropriate. Regrettably, while he was an acknowledged biblical scholar, he was a virulent anti-papist. Naming a library after him may understandably cause offence to Roman Catholic students of a sensitive disposition. The question that now must also be considered is whether naming the college after the Christian theological concept of the Trinity is appropriate in the modern era. Surely it must be offensive to those of other religious beliefs, and is an “othering” of these students. Deletion of the word “Trinity” or abolition of the college altogether would be simple solutions to this dilemma. Since the University of Dublin has only one constituent college, there is no possibility of confusion and no need to name it in any event. – Yours, etc,
COLIN DOYLE,
Ennis,
Co Clare.
Sir, – I note that “The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth” proclaims the principle of inclusivity in its rationale for the decision to “dename” the Berkeley Library.
That fulfils my recommended daily dose of irony. – Yours, etc,
DAVID LOUGHLIN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – If Berkeley’s name is erased, will Trinity still hold that a single God is three separate persons? – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY ,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dhún na nGall.
A chara, – Having spent many years studying in the Berkeley Library, I strongly disagree with the decision to rename the library. It is simply a reactionary move designed to placate a vocal minority of activists.
If Trinity College really felt strongly about its association with the abhorrent slave trade, perhaps a generous scholarship programme for descendants of slaves would be a more fitting response. – Is mise,
DAN BARRY,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – The students at Trinity College have struck a tremendous blow for freedom by persuading the college authorities to rename the Berkeley Library.
The library was, after all, named in honour of a slave owner; slavery is rightly condemned and should be rooted out wherever it exists.
This activism came at no cost to the students who will now be able to bask in the glory of their own virtue signalling. They will also be able to set about agitating to try freeing some or all of those currently enslaved and who will, no doubt, be very grateful for the efforts made by the students on their behalf. – Yours, etc,
TREVOR TROY,
Baile Átha Buí,
Co na Mí.
Sir, – In the spirit of the times, might the World of Knowledge & Education (Woke) Library be an apt substitute? – Yours, etc,
E BURKE,
Kilkenny.