Page 123 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

DUBLIN  121

of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the 9 Christ Church
cathedral underwent extensive Cathedral
restoration during the 1860s.
The interior is dotted with Christchurch Place. Tel 01-677 8099.
memorials. The most elaborate @ 13, 49, 54A, 56A, 77A, 123. Open
is the one erected in 1632 by daily. Closed Dec 26 & 27. & 7
limited. ∑ christchurchdublin.ie
Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, in
memory of his second wife
Katherine. It is deco rated with The cathedral was
painted carvings of members commissioned in 1172
of the Boyle family. Others by Richard de Clare, known
remembered in the church as Strongbow, the Anglo-
include the harpist Turlough Norman conqueror of Dublin,
O’Carolan (1670–1738) and and by Archbishop Laurence
Douglas Hyde (1860–1949), O’Toole. It replaced an earlier
Ireland’s first President. wooden church built by the
Many visitors come to see the Vikings. During the Reform-
memorials associated with ation, the cathedral passed
Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), to the Protestant Church of
Dean of St. Patrick’s and a Ireland. It was remodeled by Christ Church Cathedral viewed from the east,
scathing satirist best known as architect George Street in the with the Old Synod Hall behind
the author of Gulliver’s Travels. In 1870s. Even so, the north wall,
the south aisle is “Swift’s Corner,” the one closest to the river, still In the atmospheric crypt are
which has memorabilia, such as leans out alarmingly as a result fragments removed from the
an altar table and his death of subsidence. As part of the cathedral during its restoration.
mask. On the southwest side of remodeling, the Old Synod There are also the mummified
the nave, two brass plates mark Hall was built and linked to bodies of a cat and a rat found in
his grave and that of his the cathedral by an attractive an organ pipe in the 1860s. There
beloved “Stella,” Ester Johnson. covered bridge. is a permanent exhibition of the
cathedral’s treasures as well.
The nave has some fine early
Bedford VISITORS’ CHECKLIST Gothic arches. At the west end
Tower (1760) is a memorial known as the
Practical Information Strongbow Monument. The
Off Dame St. Tel 01-645 8813. large effigy in chain armor is
Open daily (Sun pm only). probably not Strongbow, but
Closed Jan 1, Good Fri, the curious half-figure beside
Dec 24–28. & 8 obligatory. it may be part of his original
Chester Beatty Library: tomb. The Chapel of St. Laud
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Fri. houses a casket containing the
Closed Jan 1, Good Fri, Dec heart of St. Laurence O’Toole.
24–26, public hols.
∑ dublincastle.ie
Transport 0 Dublinia and the
@ 49, 77A, 123. Viking World
St. Michael’s Hill. Tel 01-679 4611.
@ 13, 49, 54A, 123. Open daily.
Closed Dec 24–26. & 7
∑ dublinia.ie
Entrance to Housed in the Neo-Gothic
Upper Yard
Synod Hall, which is linked
by a bridge to Christ Church
Lower Yard
Cathedral, this heritage center
covers the period of Dublin’s
history from the arrival of the
Anglo-Normans in 1170 to
Government the closure of the monasteries
offices in the 1540s. An audio tour
Figure of Justice takes visitors through lifesize
Cynical Dubliners have joked that reconstructions of the medieval
this statue above the castle city. There is also a Viking
Chapel Royal entrance appears to be warship and an interactive
(1814) turning her back on the city. archaeology exhibition.

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