Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin

Favorite thing: The Dublinia
The Dublinia provides a very good exhibition portraying life in medieval Dublin from Anglo-Norman age in 1170 to the closure of the monasteries and the Reformation circa 1540. It functions somewhat as an interactive museum exploring Dublin and Ireland’s medieval heritage as well as entertaining and educating visitors.

The building was once the site of the Church of Ireland’s Synod Hall, the governmental seat for all church functions, from the years 1875 to 1983. The Synod Hall and bridge were built in the 1870's as part of the major restoration work on Christ Church Cathedral. That was work funded by the distiller Henry Roe at his own expense, at an approximate cost in today’s dollars of (if I remember correctly) £230,000 (£23m today!). Obviously, Henry Roe was one powerfully wealthy man in his time.

Another interesting bit of information about the building currently occupied by the Dublinia is that it stands on the site of the 12th century Church of St. Michael. The original tower of St. Michael is incorporated into the “new” building.

Favorite thing: Dublinia is a 10 minute walk from Trinity College and a five minute walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The average tour of the exhibits takes about 45 minutes and 1 hour. The exit from the Dublinia takes you through their gift shop, which contains some very good books on the Cathedral and Medieval Dublin, and across the arched bridge shown in the previous photographs. You will come off the bridge directly at the entrance to Christ Church Cathedral.

Admission Prices
Adult: €5.75
Child: €4.25
Senior Citizen: €4.50
Student: €4.50
Family Ticket: €15.00 (2 x adults and 2 x children) Additional children :€1.90
Under 5’s are free

Guided tours are available to pre-booked groups and special rates apply: Please contact 01-6794611 or e-mail: marketing@dublinia.ie

Favorite thing: Educational program
The Dublinia offers an educational program called the “FAS Local Training Initative/Dublinia Heritage Project” for those of you interested in more than the touristy side of visiting Dublin. It is an eight months long program combining training and work experience, available to fourteen to sixteen students.

Participants receive training in Irish history and archaeology with special reference to medieval Dublin and in Irish heritage and tourism, customer care and retail sales. Successful completion of the program leads to the FAS/City & Guilds certification in Heritage Centre Studies.

Favorite thing: Just to the west of the Cathedral across Winetavern Street is the Dublinia, linked to the Cathedral by this very elaborate and beautiful bridge. The entrance to Dublinia is approximately 10 meters north as you walk under the bridge, on the left hand side of the street facing the Liffey. This bridge is a magnificient piece of architecture in its own right, so be certain to take notice of it as you walk along the grounds and neighborhood surrounding Christ Church.

Favorite thing: Remember how when we first entered the building we discussed the importnace of our donations? Here's a good example of why they are so important.

Strongbow was enclosed in a metal coffin in the 1180's (+/-) to lie safely and peacefully -he thought- within the protection of this marvelous cathedral whose construction he initiated.

Unfortunately for him though, through neglect of maintaining this magnificent building, some of its walls and nave roof collapsed right on top of his tomb in the year 1562, disturbing his perpetual sleep and completely destroying his tomb.

The reconstruction effort repairing the Cathedral's and destruction, lasted until the 1870s! The north nave wall has leaned out by 46cm / 18 inches since then, and is now known as "the leaning wall of Dublin".

This replica of his coffin, relocated from Drogheda, "possibly" contains maybe some of his remains, and is prominantly displayed in the Cathedral as shown here. There's a small portion of what is thought to be a part of the original tomb displayed alongside this replica .

Favorite thing: I loved this part; Lawrence O'Toole's heart. I suppose that once you're dead, there's no complaining about what happens to your body parts, eh? Well, Here's one of Lawrence's body parts, displayed apparently without complaint!!

Lawrence O'Toole was the arch bishop of the church beginning in the year 1162 A.D. His importance as a Dublin historical figure jumped into the stratosphere in 1170 during the invasion and capture of the city Anglo-Normans led by Strongbow (Richard de Clare) when he acted as an instrumental diplomat bewteen Dubliners and de Clare.

Favorite thing: Let's see what we can find in here:

This photo shows a beautiful medieval brass lectern. It is used as a stand for placing books, which in this case would be the Bible. It's on the scavenger hunt, so see if you can find it while here.

In the USA, it is often incorrectly called a "podium." I don't know if other countries have this problem, but here in the USA I hear it misnamed almost all the time. It is not a "podium".

Podium is a Latin word refering to a raised platform. When you speak before an audience, you sometimes step "onto" a podium and speak "behind" a lectern. You never (effectively) speak behind a podium!!

The photo shown demonstrates one of the better examples of a lectern that you will ever find.

Favorite thing: The tile work at Christ Church is truly magnificient. Be sure to pay attention to this when visiting the cathedral.

There's a book available from the Church about the floor and wall tiles here at Christ Church Cathedral: describing how the medieval and nineteenth-century tiles in the cathedral were made, how the tiles were intended to look in the medieval cathedral, their discovery during the restoration [of the cathedral in the 1870s] and the creation of the nineteenth-century tiles.

"FLOOR TILES:"
A guide to the medieval and 19th century
floor tiles of Christ Church cathedral Dublin
by Joanna Wren
(Dublin: Christ Church Cathedral Publications, 2003)
24pp (pbk) ?4.95