A BENEFACTOR who has asked to remain anonymous has made an endowment of £1 million to Trinity College, Dublin, to create a new chair in early Irish at the School of Irish and Celtic Languages. Trinity College's existing chair of Irish was established in 1840 and is the oldest such chair in the world.
Mr Michael Gleeson, secretary to the college, said the donor was from the United Kingdom and had no family links to Ireland. However, he added, the person had a long time interest in things Irish and especially early Irish history. Prof Cathal O Hainle, head of the school of Irish and Celtic Languages, said the new chair would create fresh opportunities for research and teaching. The appointment would facilitate the institution of a taught Master's course in early Irish and promote co operation with kindred disciplines in medieval studies.
