St Patrick's Cathedral
- Hours: Open Mon - Thurs 9am - 5:30pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 6:30pm
- Admission: Adults: €5.50
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Holy Place,
Must-Do Experience,
Religious Experience,
Church / Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, built to honor the patron saint of Ireland, is a must-see attraction in Dublin. It stands adjacent to the well that it is said St. Patrick himself used to baptize converts. The original wooden church was erected in this spot in the 5th century but was rebuilt at the end of the 13th century to reflect its boost to cathedral status. Some repairs were done in the 1800s but the original style was maintained well enough to make it unclear as to how much of the medieval structure remains.
Milestones in the cathedral's history include famous author Jonathan Swift serving as Dean and the first performance of Handel's Messiah by members of the cathedral's Choir School. The former Dean's grave and the original music composition are on display in the cathedral as evidence of these events. Besides these items, St. Patrick's is filled with rows of statues, beautiful stained glass, and elegant decorations for visitors to marvel at as they walk through.
Latest Reviews
Review by jomally, March 2013
Doing what: The Dublin Pass
The Dublin Pass really pays for itself... you just have to plan your time! We really wanted to go to the zoo, but the weather didn't allow for that. We had the three-day pass and activated it from the airport so we could catch the shuttle to the city center; this was a poor decision since we didn't get settled in our hotel until the late afternoon and didn't really have time to visit any attractions that day. I would advise you be mindful of that - it's only 7 euro to catch the shuttle without the pass. The great part is that you can revisit the same places on each day. We went to Guinness Storehouse and the line was out of this world; with the pass we were able to skip the queue, which paid for itself right there. We didn't take full advantage of our passes, but still feel like we definitely got our money worth. I would recommend this for anybody that is looking to hit up the main tourist attractions.
Review by Karen S, March 2013
Doing what: The Dublin Pass
This is wonderful for the price.
Review by Isobel B, February 2013
Doing what: The Dublin Pass
Excellent idea. Meant all our spending money went on food, drink, and the occasional tram ride. We loved the zoo, thought the gaol tour was well documented. Guide really knew his stuff! Spent a morning at the Guinness Store, enjoying our free pint and the breathtaking panoramic view on the seventh floor. Jameson Distillery was another great tour. Am now a convert loving Jameson's with ginger ale and lime! Spent a lovely evening at the Brazen Head - live entertainment was great and Irish Stew to die for!!! Visited The Quays Bar and enjoyed the entertainment. Found a quirky bar on Dame Street - Bankers Lounge - great crowd. Had a couple of superb meals at the Bank on College Green. All in all superb trip would definitely go again and recommend the Dublin Pass. We even got transported to O'Connell Street by bus from outside the airport. No hassle during our stay. JUST FUN.
St. Patrick's Cathedral is not the sole Church of Ireland. It actually shares the title with Christ Church Cathedral, also in Dublin, which holds the Archbishop's seat. Until 1870, the two churches shared one diocese, but since then, two informal names have been given to distinguish them from each other. St. Patrick's Cathedral is also now known as the National Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral is called Cathedral of Dublin and Glendalough. While St. Patrick's is the better known of the two, both are most definitely worth visiting.
