Seeing the Sights - Dublin - page 97

only surviving medieval parish in Dublin. Although it is partly in
ruins, significant parts have survived, including the west doorway,
which dates from 1190, and the 13th-century nave. In addition, the
17th-century bell tower houses three bells cast in 1423, making
them the oldest in Ireland. It's a Church of Ireland property, but
nearby is another St. Audeon's Church, this one Catholic and dat-
ing from 1846. It was in the latter church that Father Flash
Kavanagh used to say the world's fastest mass so that his congrega-
tion was out in time for the football matches. Since 1999, entrance
to the ancient church is through the visitor center. The center's
exhibition, relating the history of St. Audeon's, is self-guided, while
visits to the church itself are by guided tour only.
Cornmarket (off High St.), Dublin 8. & 01/677-0088. Admission and tour € 2
($2.40) adults,

5.50
($6.60) families. June-Sept daily 9:30am-5:30pm. Last admission 45 min. prior to
closing. Bus: 21A, 78A, or 78B.

€ 1.25 ($1.50) seniors, € 1 ($1.20) children and students, €

St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral Because Dublin's two main cathe-
drals (Christ Church and St. Patrick's) belong to the Protestant
Church of Ireland, St. Mary's is the closest the Catholics get to hav-
ing their own. Tucked into a corner of a rather-unimpressive back
street, it is in the heart of the city's north side and is considered the
main Catholic parish church of the city center. Built between 1815
and 1825, it is of the Greek Revival Doric style, providing a distinct
contrast to the Gothic Revival look of most other churches of the
period. The exterior portico is modeled on the Temple of Theseus
in Athens, with six Doric columns, while the Renaissance-style inte-
rior is patterned after the Church of St. Philip de Reule of Paris. The
church is noted for its Palestrina Choir, which sings a Latin Mass
every Sunday at 11am.
Cathedral and Marlborough sts., Dublin 1. & 01/874-5441. Free admission.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat-Sun 8am-7pm. DART: Connolly. Bus: 28, 29A, 30, 31A, 31B,
32A, 32B, or 44A.

St. Michan's Church Built on the site of an early Danish chapel
(1095), this 17th-century edifice claims to be the only parish church
on the north side of the Liffey surviving from a Viking foundation.
Now under the Church of Ireland banner, it has some fine interior
woodwork and an organ (dated 1724) on which Handel is said to
have played his Messiah. The church was completely and beautifully
restored in 1998. A unique (and, let it be noted, most macabre) fea-
ture of this church is the underground burial vault. Because of the