St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin – The Largest Church in Ireland!
It is said that Saint Patrick’s story began here when he was baptized in a well close to the cathedral’s location today. It was declared a holy site and a wooden church was built here in his honour during the 5th Century. In 1191 the church was re-built in stone. The original tower and part of the west wing were destroyed by fire in 1362 but was rebuilt in 1370 by Archbishop Minot.
Over the years Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was renovated many times. During 1860-1865 it was feared that the cathedral was in imminent danger of collapsing and saw major renovation during this time, this explains why much of the architecture is Victorian in style today.
Today Saint Patrick’s Cathedral plays host to many pubic ceremonies such as Remembrance Day, Christmas Carol Service and many more. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was also the location where the funerals of two Presidents of Ireland took place: Dr. Douglas Hyde and Erskine Hamilton Childers.
Tours of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral are available however these tours must be booked in advance. Tours last approximately 30-minutes and tell the stories and tales of this splendid building and its captivating history. There are leaflets and self-guided tours also available.
The organ at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is very impressive and is one of the largest in Ireland containing over 4,000 pipes! Parts of this organ date back as far as 1695. Over the years the organ has been restored many times and continues to sound as wonderful as ever echoing throughout Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral welcomes all who come to pray or simply sight-see. There is a small fee for those who wish to go sightseeing but this fee certainly is worth it. On-site there is also a gift-shop with some wonderful publications and many other items available for purchase.
By: Mairead Foley
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