Kilmainham & The Liberties - Dublin - page 257

Church of St Francis , otherwise known as Adam & Eve's, after a tavern through which worshippers gained ac-
cess to a secret chapel during Penal Law times during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Further down Merchant's Quay you'll spot the Father Mathew Bridge , built in 1818 on the spot of the
fordable crossing that gave Dublin its Irish name, Baile Átha Cliath (Town of the Hurdle Ford). Take a left onto
Bridge St and stop for a drink at Dublin's oldest pub, the Brazen Head , dating from 1198 (although the

present building dates from a positively youthful 1668).
Take the next left onto Cook St, where you'll find St Audoen's Arch , one of the only remaining gates of
32 that were built into the medieval city walls, dating from 1240. Climb through the arch up to the ramparts to see
one of the city's oldest existing churches, St Audoen's . It was built around 1190, and is not to be confused

with the newer Catholic church next door.
Leave the little park, join High St and head east until you reach the first corner. Here on your left is the former
Synod Hall, now Dvblinia , where medieval Dublin has been interactively re-created. Turn left and walk un-
der the Synod Hall Bridge, which links Dvblinia to one of the city's most important landmarks - Christ
Church Cathedral ( Click here ) - and, in medieval times, the most important church inside the city walls.
Exit the cathedral onto Christ Church Pl, cross over onto Nicholas St and turn right onto Back Lane. Proceed to
Tailor's Hall , Dublin's oldest surviving guild hall, built between 1703 and 1707 (though it says 1770 on the
plaque) for the Tailors Guild. It's now the headquarters of An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland.
Do an about-turn, head back along the lane and turn right into Nicholas St, which becomes Patrick St. To your
left you'll see St Patrick's (p ), Dublin's most important cathedral, which stood outside the city walls. Along
St Patrick's Close, beyond the bend on the left, is the stunningly beautiful Marsh's Library , named after
Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, dean of St Patrick's. Further along again on your left is the Dublin Metropolit-

an Police building, once the Episcopal Palace of St Sepulchre.
Finally, follow our route up Bride St, Golden Lane and Great Ship St, and finish up with a long wander around
Dublin Castle . Be sure not to miss the striking powder-blue Bermingham Tower and the nearby Chester
Beatty Library, south of the castle, which houses one of the city's most fascinating collections of rare books and
manuscripts, and is well worth a visit.