Libraries and Cathedrals in the Rain

The atrium and cafe

The Gardens outside of the library

      Today I had a half day at my internship, so at noon I took off and got some lunch to eat in St. Stephen's Green. I am sorry that I do not have pictures of the Green, but it is a lovely park that is near the center of the city that happens to be right by where I have my internship. Having utilized the wifi at the place I was eating, I looked up some places that I would like to go in Dublin, since I had the afternoon off and did not want to waste my time sitting in my apartment. The first place that I decided to go was the Chester Beatty Library, which is situated behind Dublin Castle and right on the Dublin Castle Gardens. Though it is technically a library, it is also a museum. It houses the collections of American miming mogul Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, who lived in Ireland in his later years and was actually Ireland's first honorary citizen. There are two collections: the Sacred Traditions collection and Artistic Traditions collection. The first collection is dedicated to the great religions of the world (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism), and has texts, sacred books, and art from all of them. The second collection is of books from the ancient world, including an Egyptian Book of the Dead, illuminated European manuscripts, and Islamic calligraphy, along with Japanese picture scrolls. They were all truly lovely to behold, and though I had no idea the library existed till I saw it in a guide book, apparently it was the European Museum of the Year in 2002. No pictures were allowed to be taken of the collections, but I will give you a sample of what I saw through the wonder of the internet.

An ornate book cover

Drawings

Japanese Scroll

     Next, I headed right down the street (in the rain as Ireland's nice weather and heat wave has ended) to Christ Church Cathedral. Christ Church is Dublin's oldest cathedral and people have been coming to worship there for nearly a thousand years. The Cathedral has undergone many transformations, and has passed through many hands, from the Norse to the English to the Irish. It was, for me, an immensely powerful place, and I found it quite breathtaking at times, though I am not sure why precisely.
     So, when I walked into Christ Church, there was apparently a choir presentation going on, and I filmed you all a bit of the hallelujah chorus that they did as I entered. Absolutely wonderful (though I am sorry, a man gets up from the pew during the middle of it, and blocks the view for a moment). It really was fabulous, and added to the whole experience.

  

Christ Church Cathedral

The Altar

Lady Chapel, where weekday Eucharists are celebrated.

In the Crypt there is an exhibition on the treasures of Christ Church, from gold and silver, to statues. There is also a small exhibition with costumes from the show The Tudors, which was filmed in Ireland and did some filming in the cathedral. It was a wonderful show about Henry VIII, and started Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

The tomb of Strongbow. Strongbow was the leader of the Anglo-Normans who captured Dublin in 1170, and he was buried in the cathedral in 1176.

View of the altar through the choir

 Not wanting to walk too far in the rain, I journey farther down the road to St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is the national cathedral of Ireland. Unfortunately, St. Patrick's did not fill me with as much emotion as Christ Church, perhaps because they have their gift shop set up in the back of the church and it is the first thing you see when you walk in. It cannot be denied though that it is quite stunning. It is said that St. Patrick baptized converts in the park alongside the Cathedral, which is why the Normans built the church there in 1191, though it would be rebuilt in the 13th century. Jonathan Swift, which is best known as the author of Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal, was Dean there in the 18th century. Like Christ Church, St. Patrick's is now an Anglican (Church of Ireland) Cathedral, though both are claimed by the Catholic Diocese as well.

Plaque honoring Jonathan Swift

Lady Chapel

The North Transept, where those that died int he British Army are honored. If you look on the left hand side of the picture, you can see Union Jacks. Strange to see that in the Irish national cathedral. 

Statue of St. Patrick