saint patricks cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral is Ireland's largest cathedral and attracts in the region of 300,000 visitors each year. It dates back to 1191 and is the largest of the three Church of Ireland cathedrals in Dublin. Externally the cathedral is 91 metres long while the nave is 17 metres high.
Before the cathedral was built a holy was on this site. And according to legend St Patrick was baptised here. As a result a small wooden church was built here to commemorate St. Patrick in the 5th century. In 1192 it was rebuilt in stone by Archbishop John Comyn. A stone now marks the site where the holy well used to be - it's sealed in the west end of the cathedral.
A major renovation project was undertaken in the 1870's and as a result much of the architecture is Victorian in style. Jonathan Swift, (writer of Gulliver's Travels) who was Dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745, is buried here. Also the funerals of two former Irish presidents took place here, namely Dr. Douglas Hyde and Erskine Hamilton Childers.

The main exhibition subject is the history of St Patrick's Cathedral: church symbolism and architecture, word, art and music. It explores St Patrick’s involvement with education and social issues and includes a section on the Order of St Patrick. The latter section features the installation programme of Albert, Prince of Wales as a Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick on 18 April 1868.
This programme contains very beautiful hand drawn illuminations in gouache and watercolour. Music has always been central to the life of the cathedral and the exhibition helps the visitor to understand the importance of music in St Patrick’s and the many ways in which music is promoted in the cathedral. This section includes a manuscript part book in the hand of John Mathews, a singer in the cathedral choir, and opens at the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah. The first performance of this oratorio took place in Dublin in 1742 and included the choirs of St Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals.
The section on St Patrick examines the early Christian church in the area around the present cathedral and provides an introduction to the historical St Patrick and the persistence of the legend of St Patrick.
Living Stones also features an exploration of the life and work of Jonathan Swift who was Dean of St Patrick’s. This section concentrates on Dean Swift’s religious and personal life and his writings. The original parchment scroll awarding Swift the Freedom of the City of Dublin is included, as is the Queen Anne Patent which is the warrant of Swift’s appointment as Dean of the cathedral on 6 May 1713.
Entrance to the cathedral includes entrance to the exhibition. Further information is available at St. Patrick's Cathederal here.

Monday to Friday 9.00 - 18.00
Saturday March to October 9.00-18.00
Saturday November to February 9.00 - 17.00
Sunday March to October 9.00-11.00; 12.45 - 15.00; 16.15 - 18.00
Sunday November to February 10.00 - 11.00; 12.45 - 15.00

No visitors are admitted from 11.00 - 12.45 and 15.00 - 16.15 on Sundays except for worship/service.
The Cathedral is closed to visitors on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day