Trinity Ball 2023 may be the last time the event is held on campus for five years, according to Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).
Due to construction works associated with the Old Library Redevelopment Project, access to two main stage areas, New Square and Fellows Square, will be lost, meaning that it will not be possible to erect stages in these locations.
Construction in New Square, the site of the main stage in recent years, has already begun, meaning that Trinity Ball 2023 will comprise of just two stages. The main stage will instead be located in Front Square.
As a consequence of the loss of a stage, capacity will be reduced from last year, however TCDSU has confirmed that ticket prices will remain the same, despite rising inflation.
Capacity for Trinity Ball last year was 7,500, with tickets costing €91.
In an exclusive statement to Trinity News, TCDSU announced that this year’s event is scheduled to take place on 14 April 2023.
The statement continued: “This has been a particularly difficult year for Trinity Ball, due to construction in New Square.”
“Despite these challenges, Trinity Ball will happen, in major part due to the hard work of our Entertainments Officer Max Lynch who has been lobbying college, and working with Trinity Ball’s production manager MCD and the Trinity Ball Committee to ensure it is pushed over the line.”
It added: “We have had to think outside the box this year and are excited to bring a huge production to campus.”
TCDSU Ents Officer Max Lynch said that “after many months of suggesting various fixes and ideas” he was “delighted” to announce that Trinity Ball will go ahead this year.
“While the future is uncertain, I wholeheartedly believe that this Trinity Ball will be brilliant and I hope students are excited to experience Trinity Ball on campus, potentially for the last time,” Lynch said.
President Gabi Fullam added: “This college is owned by its community. Trinity Ball is a huge part of the student experience, and the Student Union will always fight for campus to be used for the purpose it is intended: student life, student space, education and cultural experience.”
It is unclear what alternative venues may be considered for future iterations of Trinity Ball, or if the event will go ahead off-campus at all.
College did not offer comment.
Trinity Ball has been held on campus every year since its inception in 1959, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 when the event was not held due to pandemic restrictions.
