St Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral is Ireland's largest church and has stood at the centre of Irish history for more than eight centuries. According to tradition, St Patrick himself baptised Dublin's first Christian converts here in the 5th century, at a well that gave the site its name. Today the cathedral is the national church of the Church of Ireland and best known as the final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels". It stands in the heart of historic south Dublin, just a few steps from Christ Church Cathedral.

History and architecture

The current Gothic building was built between 1220 and 1259 under Archbishop Henry de Loundres. It replaced a Norman stone church from 1191, which in turn stood on the site of an early Christian wooden chapel dating to the 5th century. At 91 metres long, with a 43-metre tower, St Patrick's remains Ireland's largest church.

After a fire, the tower - Minot's Tower, was rebuilt between 1362 and 1370; its distinctive spire was added in 1749. From 1783 to 1871 the cathedral served as the chapel of the Order of St Patrick, whose heraldic banners and helmets still hang in the nave today.

By the 19th century the building faced serious decay. Benjamin Lee Guinness, grandson of the brewery's founder, funded a major restoration out of his own pocket between 1860 and 1865, over £150,000. A bronze statue in front of the main entrance still commemorates him. For the bigger picture of the city's past, see the Dublin history guide.

What to expect inside

The best-known tomb is that of Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels" and dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745. He rests beside Esther "Stella" Johnson, his close confidante. If Dublin's literary past interests you, the Literary Dublin guide has more to explore.

Other highlights include:

• Door of Reconciliation, the wooden door with its cut-out hole from 1492, the origin of the English phrase "to chance your arm".
• The Boyle Monument, a monumental 17th-century wall tomb.
• Turlough O'Carolan, a memorial to one of Ireland's last great bards.
• The 1902 Willis organ, with over 4,000 pipes, one of the largest organs in Ireland.

Guided tours are included in the admission price Monday to Saturday at 10:30 and 14:30. They cover the key monuments and are a good way to understand the stories behind the tombs; there are no tours on Sundays. If you'd rather explore at your own pace, multilingual audio guides are available, in English, Irish, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin, either as a handset or free on your own phone via the visitor website.

Tickets and admission

Admission is charged: adults pay €11.50, students and seniors aged 60 and over €10.00, children aged 6 to 12 €5.50, and under-5s go free. The family ticket for two adults and up to three children costs €31.00.

• Combined ticket: paired with the neighbouring Marsh's Library, a combined ticket costs €17.00. Since the two buildings sit right next to each other, it's worth combining them.
• Buying online: tickets are available in advance through the cathedral's official booking portal. Buying ahead isn't essential, but it saves the queue on busy days.
• Dublin Pass: admission is included in the Go City Dublin Pass. The Dublin Pass guide explains whether the pass is worth it for your trip; the Attractions guide gives a general overview of prices and booking.

Visiting and practical tips

Allow around 45 to 60 minutes for a visit, or about ninety minutes with a guided tour. Opening hours vary through the week: Monday to Friday 09:30 to 17:00, Saturday 09:00 to 18:00. On Sundays the cathedral is only open to visitors at limited times (09:00-13:00 and 16:30-18:00) because of services, weekdays are noticeably quieter.

• Photography: allowed, but not during services or when the choir is present.
• Accessibility: the south-west entrance on Saint Patrick's Close has a staff-operated ramp, and there's a wheelchair-accessible toilet.
• Getting there: the cathedral is about 1 km south-west of Trinity College, roughly a 16-minute walk. Bus routes 49, 54A, 56A, 77A and 151 stop on Patrick Street, and most hop-on hop-off tours stop right outside. For fares and tickets, see the Leap Card guide and the Public transport overview.

The adjoining St Patrick's Park makes for a quiet spot after your visit. Near the south-west entrance, a plaque marks the presumed site of the holy well where St Patrick is said to have baptised converts, the origin of the site's name.

Combine your visit

St Patrick's sits in Dublin's historic core and combines well with nearby sights. Right next door is Marsh's Library, Ireland's first public library, cheaper with a combined ticket. A few minutes north you'll find Christ Church Cathedral and its adjoining Viking museum Dublinia. A little further west is the Guinness Storehouse. For an overview of Dublin's other places of worship, see the Churches guide, and for guided walks, the Tours guide.