Access to Trinity College Dublin via its front gate at the College Green entrance was being blocked temporarily today as the restored European oak gate is reinstated.

A section of the wooden entrance, which dates back to 1879, was damaged after it was repeatedly rammed by a motorist in April.

Broken pieces of the gate were gathered and the remainder of the structure was taken away to be repaired.

A university spokeswoman said due to the added obstruction of the Luas works, access to the front gate was completely closed as the restored gate is being reinstalled. The spokeswoman said the work should it should take less than two hours.

The gate will be french-polished tomorrow, with the works expected to be finished on Saturday.

Restrictions in Dublin’s College Green to facilitate the diversion of underground pipes ahead of the laying of tracks for the Luas cross city works are set to continue until the end of the summer.