St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral is the largest church in Ireland. Unusually, Dublin has two cathedrals belonging to the Church of Ireland, which act effectively as co-cathedrals. The Archbishop of Dublin has his official seat in the other one, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin.

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History of St. Patrick's Cathedral

The site of St. Patrick's Cathedral is said to be the earliest Christian site in Ireland, where St. Patrick baptized converts.

A wooden St. Patrick's Church stood on the site from the 5th century to about 1191, when the church was raised to the status of cathedral. The present building, the largest church in Ireland, was built between 1191 and 1270.

However, because of a major rebuilding in the 1870sprompted by the belief that the cathedral was in imminent danger of collapse, much of the current building and decoration dates from the Victorian era.

Though the rebuild ensured the survival of the cathedral, a failure to preserve records of the rebuild means that little is known as to how much of the current building is genuinely medieval and how much is Victorian pastiche.

During his stay in Dublin, Oliver Cromwell stabled his horses in the nave of the cathedral. Throughout its long history the cathedral had contributed much to Irish life. The writer and satirist Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, was Dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745. His grave and epitaph can be seen in the cathedral.

The Choir School was founded in 1432 and many of its members took part in the very first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742. The composition is on display in a glass case in the cathedral.

From 1783 until 1871 the cathedral served as the Chapel of the Most Illustrious Order Saint Patrick, for the members of the Knights of St. Patrick. With the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871 the installation ceremony moved to St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, but the heraldic banners of the knights at the time of the move still hang over the choir stalls to this day.

Today the cathedral is the location for a number of public national ceremonies. Ireland's Remembrance Day ceremonies, hosted by the Royal British Legion and attended by the President of Ireland, take place there every November.

Quick Facts on St. Patrick's Cathedral

Site Information
Names:Árd Eaglais Naomh Pádraig · Cathedral of St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Cathedral · The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick
Categories:cathedrals
Styles:Gothic Revival style
Dedication: St. Patrick
Dates:1191-1270
Status: active
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:53.339522° N, 6.271670° W
Address:21-50 Patrick's Close, Dublin 8, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Phone:01/475-4817
Email:contact form
Hours:Mar-Oct: Daily 9am-5:30pm (last admission for tours at 5pm)
Nov-Feb: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-3pm

No visits during Sunday services.
Lodging:View hotels near St. Patrick's Cathedral
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

References

  1. Personal visit (August 26, 2007).
  2. St. Patrick's Cathedral - official website
  3. Frommer's Ireland 2005
  4. E-mail from cathedral with updated visitor info (May 8, 2008).

More Information

© Holly Hayes
© Holly Hayes
© Holly Hayes
© Holly Hayes
© Holly Hayes
© Holly Hayes
© Holly Hayes
Handel's Messiah on display in a glass case. © Joan Patrick

Map of St. Patrick's Cathedral

Below is a location map and aerial view of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.