Carla King-Molina | Junior Editor
The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, visited Trinity this morning as part of this two-day visit to Ireland, visiting the Long Room and the Book of Kells.
Valls visited Trinity’s Long Room and was escorted by Professor Linda Hogan, Vice-Provost of Trinity and Dr Sarah Alyn-Stacey, a Professor of French and member of the Académie de Savoie, as well as the Librarian and College Archivist, Helen Shenton. He was shown the Book of Kells and the library’s recently acquired Samuel Beckett letters. The library now holds the largest collection of Beckett letters of any research library in the world.
Hogan said she “was honoured by this visit which goes to strengthen our relations with France.” She proceeded to talk about all of Trinity’s links to France, with reference to the Chair of French, the oldest such chair in the world, dating from 1776.
The letters and cards were exchanged with Henri and Josette Hayden. Beckett and his wife Suzanne Dechevaux-Dumesnil met the couple in southern France, where they were both avoiding discovery by the Nazi’s during the Second World War. Beckett’s generosity towards Trinity – he gave royalties from a year’s production of Krapp’s Last Tape to Trinity for the construction of the Berkeley Library – was also discussed.
The French Prime Minister ended his visit by meeting with French students as well as with members French Department and staff across an array of disciplines with varying links to France.
Valls is in Ireland on a two-day visit to Ireland, primarily to open the new French embassy on Fitzwilliam Lane – part of France’s moves to deepen the relationship between France and Ireland.
Photo courtesy of TCD Communications
