Trinity College Dublin: Trinity announces changes to historic Charter to enable governance reforms

A Supplemental Charter, which updates the University’s existing charters laying out how the University is governed, was approved by the Trinity Board on 7 October 2022 and was formally recognised by the Government on 15 November 2022. The new Supplemental Charter sets out the composition of Trinity’s Board.

This Supplemental Charter was joined to the Founding Charter by Dr Linda Doyle, Provost and the Secretary to the College, John Coman, in the Old Library last week. The Founding Charter of 1592, is part of the Archives of the University and is kept in the Manuscripts & Archives Research Collection in the Library. Along with other documents of historical importance in our collection, it is regularly referred to by historians and other researchers. Due to its size, the fact it is written on vellum, and because of its large but fragile wax seal, it requires particular care. It has been conserved in a custom-designed, protective case made in the Department of Conservation and Preservation, and is stored under controlled environmental conditions.