Our Travelers' Diaries
Writers, Myths, and Legends - A Journey to Ireland
Submitted by Lois

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The cathedral was built first in 1190 and then rebuilt in 1370. It is not a Catholic church, but a Church of Ireland (Anglican) cathedral.
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/patrick_street/stpats.htm

I did not take any photos outside as it was raining and cold, and I was sick. I did get a few good shots inside, despite the darkness. Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels, was Dean of the cathedral from 1713-1745 as you can see on the plaque. He should have moved up further in the hierarchy of the church, but was too outspoken and unable to play the political game. (Some of us can relate to that!!!) One example would be his essay "A Modest Proposal" in which he suggested (angry, disgusted, and tongue in cheek) that since there were too many poor children and not enough food, the solution would be to eat the children!!!
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~jlynch/Courses/95c/Texts/modest.html

You will also see the choir area, with banners and hatchments of the Knights of St. Patrick, founded in 1783 by George III for those deserving special honor in Ireland.
http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/knights.htm

The plaque dedicated to TurloughCarolan, harper and the last bard of Ireland, is important as the bards were the historians of their day: since many people could neither read nor write, much of the history, cultures, and traditions were passed on by such bards, or storytellers and singers.

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