16 September 2023

St. Patrick's Cathedral

You can't go to Ireland, especially Dublin and not expect to see Catholic churches. Lots of them. The most important one is St. Patrick's Cathedral (in Dublin). It was founded in 1191 and is the national cathedral of Ireland.  The grounds are beautifully landscaped. There is a Liberty Bell in front of the church. It celebrates the memory of the medieval liberties that spread out around St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is modern (c. 2004). We didn't go inside the church.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Liberty Bell

The fountain commemorates the traditional site where St. Patrick is believed to have baptized converts during the 5th century, making it the birthplace of Christianity in Ireland.


Fountain
Beautifully landscaped grounds
Gate to church

Me in front of St. Patrick's
Historical marker

Wildflowers

Dancers in the park

Not far from St. Patrick's Cathedral was Christ Church Cathedral. It is the older of the two medieval cathedrals in Dublin. It was founded in the early 11th century by a Viking. It was renovated and rebuilt in the 19th century. There is a statue of Homeless Jesus in front of cathedral. At first you don't know it's Jesus, until you notice the holes in the feet. One hundred of these statues are spread throughout the world. The statues are meant to bring attention to the most vulnerable in our societies.


Homeless Jesus

Christ Church Cathedral