86.1% of Trinity students report feeling some degree of dissatisfaction with the Trinity Ball 2025 lineup. The figure comes from a poll conducted by Trinity News, which received 833 responses.
60.6% of respondents felt “very unsatisfied”, whereas 25.5% of respondents felt “somewhat unsatisfied”.
11.8% were “somewhat satisfied”, leaving only 2.1% of students feeling “very satisfied” with the acts.
The TBall 2025 lineup was first announced in an Instagram post by Trinity Ents last Monday, February 17. Jazzy and Confidence Man DJs are set to co-headline the event. Among the supporting acts are 49th & Main, Big Sleep, and Prozac. Trinity Orchestra, TradSoc, and DUDJ’s will also be playing.
Despite widespread dissatisfaction with the lineup, tickets nonetheless sold out quickly, as is standard.
Among other issues, the topic has been at the heart of the race to be the next Ents officer of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).
At media hustings last week, Yuv Garg said he’d like “to ensure better collaboration” between the Trinity Ball committee and MCD regarding the lineup.
Orla Norton also mentioned the current contract constraints and said she’d like to focus on improving what she can control while in the role, such as event safety and crowd control.
Finn Hallwood echoed similar sentiments to Garg and Norton, also adding that he would like to expand the size of the event.
John O’Hara stated that he would like to consider changing event companies for Trinity Ball, suggesting Festival Republic, who are the organisers behind Electric Picnic and Reading & Leeds Festival.
Earlier last week, Ents Officer Peadar Walsh told Trinity News that he “would have preferred to have more input in the headliners and the overall line-up structure”.
“I am currently working on formalising an agreement that will enable my successor to have a legitimate, significant input into the Ball next year.”
“Trinity Ball needs reform,” Walsh added, saying: “In the current financial climate, with costs of insurance and security rising year on year, this makes it incredibly difficult to achieve.”
Walsh finished by saying, “Sure look, Trinity Ball will be a special night for all students and staff involved, and I am looking forward to enjoying a lineup filled with local Irish talent. I want to thank the massive work that has gone into the event from the Trinity Ball Committee, and throughout the year from my Ents Committee.”
2025 marks 65 years of Trinity Ball. The event will take place on Trinity campus on Friday, April 11.
