Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The south transept contains the super baroque
tomb of the 19th earl of Kildare
, who died in
1734. His grandson, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, was a member of the United Irishmen and
died in the abortive 1798 Rising. The entrance to the
Chapel of St Laurence
is off the south
transept and contains two effigies, one of them is reputed to be of either Strongbow's wife
or sister.
Crypt
An entrance by the south transept descends to the unusually large arched
crypt
, which
dates back to the original Viking church. Curiosities in the crypt include a glass display-
case housing a mummified cat in the act of chasing a mummified rat (aka Tom & Jerry),
frozen midpursuit inside an organ pipe in the 1860s. Also on display are the stocks from
the old 'liberty' of Christ Church, used when church authorities meted out civil punish-
ments to wrongdoers. The
Treasury
exhibit includes rare coins, the Stuart coat of arms and
gold given to the church by William of Orange after the Battle of the Boyne. From the
main entrance, a
bridge
, part of the 1871-78 restoration, leads to Dvblinia.
EVENSONG AT THE CATHEDRALS
In a rare coming together, the choirs of St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral both participated in
the first-ever performance of Handel's
Messiah
in nearby Fishamble St in 1742, conducted by the great composer
himself. Both houses of worship carry on their proud choral traditions, and visits to the cathedrals during even-
song will provide enchanting and atmospheric memories. The choir performs evensong in St Patrick's at 5.45pm
Monday to Friday (not on Wednesday in July and August), while the Christ Church choir performs at 5.30pm on
Sunday, 6pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and 5pm Saturday. If you're going to be in Dublin around Christmas,
do not miss the carols at St Patrick's; call ahead for the hard-to-get tickets on
01-453 9472.
In March 2012, the heart of St Laurence O'Toole, which had been kept in the church for 890 years, was
stolen by a gang linked to the international trade of rhino horns.
