Trinity receives landmark gift to support conservation and restoration of cultural treasures

The landmark €7m gift from The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation will support the design and construction of a gallery on the ground floor of the Old Library.

As part of works underway to conserve and renew the 18th century Old Library, Trinity College Dublin is delighted to announce a transformational gift that will greatly enhance this dedicated exhibition space and will expand public access to Trinity's world-renowned collections, including the Book of Kells and other cultural treasures.

The landmark €7m gift from The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation will support the design and construction of a gallery on the ground floor of the Old Library. This space will offer a new way to experience Ireland's cultural heritage and bring the Old Library and its most exceptional collections to life through innovative storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and inclusive access.

In acknowledgement of this generous donation, the gallery will be named the Hilary Weston Treasures Gallery, after the late philanthropist and business leader. Born in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, Hilary Weston died in August 2025 at the age of 83. She was Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1997 to 2002, a philanthropist who focused on healthcare, women, education and literature and a recipient of a Trinity honorary degree, in 2004, among many other honours.

Within the Gallery, visitors will be able to explore the Book of Kells and other rare manuscripts and artefacts dramatically improving the visitor experience and creating new opportunities for public engagement, education and conservation.

Alannah Weston, daughter of Hilary and Galen Weston (pictured above centre), said: "My mother was an avid reader and true lover of books. This gift reflects her belief in literature's power to inform, challenge, and inspire, as well as her commitment to supporting writers through literary prizes in Canada and abroad. She took great pride in her longstanding relationship with Trinity College Dublin, both as an honorary degree recipient and through her foundation's support to empower future business leaders. She was deeply moved by the dedication to renewing the Old Library and honoured to contribute to the impact it will have in shaping new generations of writers and scholars in Ireland and around the world."

At a celebratory event to mark the donation, the name of The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation was inscribed on Trinity's 'Benefactors through the Centuries' frieze in the historic Dining Hall.

Provost of Trinity Dr Linda Doyle (pictured above on left) said: "This is a moment to honour the enduring legacy of Hilary Weston, who was an absolutely inspiring leader and philanthropist. Her vision and generosity have left an indelible mark on Trinity.

"In particular, we are deeply grateful to The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for this transformational gift to our Old Library Redevelopment Project, which will shape and safeguard one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures for generations to come.

"The Hilary Weston Treasures Gallery will greatly enrich the public's experience of the Old Library. It will be a dynamic, engaging space which will also support our academic mission of education and research."

Librarian and College Archivist Helen Shenton (above on right) said: "As Trinity's first woman Librarian & College Archivist, it gives me special pleasure to name our Old Library's first Treasures Gallery after a woman as exceptional as Hilary Weston. As stewards of the Old Library, it is important that this 18th century national heritage building and its unique collections continue to inspire future generations of students, academics and visitors.

"Gifts like these are helping us to achieve our ambitions to re-imagine the Old Library as a place of wonder, education and enlightenment accessible for all from school children to scholars."

Trinity's Old Library is open to the public at present, though many of its collections have been removed for storage. Conservation and construction works on the Old Library are scheduled to start at the end of 2027, with the project expected to be completed in 2030.

ENDS

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