Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The north transept contains various military memorials to Royal Irish Regiments, while
the northern choir aisle has a tablet marking the
grave of the Duke of Schomberg
, a prominent
casualty of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Swift provided the duke's epitaph, caustically
noting on it that the duke's own relatives couldn't be bothered to provide a suitable me-
morial. On the opposite side of the choir is a chair used by William of Orange when he
came to give thanks to God for his victory over the Catholic James II during the same
battle.
South Transept & South AIsle
Passing through the south transept, which was once the chapterhouse where the Earl of
Kildare chanced his arm, you'll see magnificent
stained-glass windows
above the funerary
monuments. The south aisle is lined with memorials to prominent 20th-century Irish Prot-
estants, including Erskine Childers, who was president of Ireland from 1973 to 1974, and
whose father was executed by the Free State during the Civil War. The son never spoke of
the struggle for Irish independence because, on the eve of his death, his father made him
promise never to do anything that might promote bitterness among the Irish people.
Living Stones
On your way around the church, you will also take in the four sections of the permanent
exhibition,
Living Stones
, which explores the cathedral's history and the contribution it has
made to the culture of Dublin.
TO CHANCE YOUR ARM
Towards the north transept is a door that has become a symbol of peace and reconciliation since it helped resolve
a scrap between the earls of Kildare and Ormond in 1492. After a feud, supporters of the squabbling nobles ended
up in a pitched battle inside the cathedral, during which Ormond's nephew - one Black James - barricaded him-
self in the chapterhouse. Kildare, having calmed down, cut a hole in the door between them and stuck his arm
through it to either shake his opponent's hand, or lose a limb in his attempt to smooth things over. James chose
mediation over amputation and took his hand. The term 'to chance your arm' entered the English lexicon and
everyone lived happily ever after - except Black James, who was murdered by Kildare's son-in-law four years
later.
