IT was standing room only in TCD's dining hall and atrium. Proud mothers and fathers, teachers, students and college dons packed into the halls to mark the annual rite of the entrance exhibition. A total of 237 bright - in fact, very bright - students received a £200 book prize in recognition of their achievements in the Leaving Cert or A levels.

They are also entitled to occupy rooms in college or in Trinity Hall at the normal rent in the senior freshman year. For the past number of years, the cut-off points for the award have been 545 points in the Leaving Cert (more than six A2s) or ABB at GCE A levels. This year's recipients represented a wide geographical spread with students from 181 schools in 28 counties present.

Trinity provost Thomas Mitchell said that the entrance exhibition was a 250-year-old tradition. "In the early 18th century this college first began to realise that high merit should be recognised and rewarded," he said. "Being an exhibitor is a matter of great pride and something that can be included in your CV."

This is the first year that a reception was held in honour of the exhibitioners. Mitchell is anxious that parents visit the college on a regular basis. "We've been very remiss in the past," he says. "We do very little to involve parents in the undergraduate education of their children. It's something that badly needs to be remedied. We would very much like to see parents here regularly, to meet the people involved in your children's education and to see the labs, library, etc."

The provost also welcomed the teachers and said that they had great reason to be proud of their pupils. "We have an outstanding second-level education system in this country of which we should be very proud. A lot of credit must go to the quality and dedication of the teachers."

He expressed the hope that all of the exhibitioners would leave TCD with an education that would equip them not only to be successful in their profession but also to get the most out of life.