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We visited Christ Church Friday, September 12. It was a wet and cool day so we did not walk around the gardens. The church is incredible on the outside and in. You pay an admission fee to enter and take the self-guided tour. They provide a pamphlet to read as you move from room to room with great information about the history and use of the space. The main level is stunning. Beneath, you venture into the medieval crypt. This was amazing. Christ Church is completely worth the time and small fee.
Spectacular church! The Christ Church Cathedral makes a statement. You can't go to Dublin Ireland without seeing this beautiful cathedral. It's eye catching because of the gothic style and the architecture. It's a beautiful cathedral and pictures don't quite do it justice! It is a must see for sure. As many have stated, this cathedral has some history and has been around for a very long time.
Dublins Anglican cathedral is fairly small but packs a punch. Its medieval architecture is delightful and the original architectural features and floors are still beautifully preserved. I understand that cathedrals are extraordinarily expensive to maintain, but charging entry is a bit distasteful. They have to balance between tourists and worshippers, but paying to go in takes the reverence away for me. Ordinarily I'd go to a service to experience the cathedral but they did not have any on the day that I went. In the basement they have the mummified remains of a cat and a rat that were found in the church organ.
Founded in the 11th century, improved and rebuilt over the centuries, this is the main church of Ireland's Archbishop of Dublin since the Irish Reformation in the 1500s. It is a beautiful cathedral and it is not free. Self-guided tours are €11 (though included with the Dublin Pass) and that's not an excessive fee considering that you can take as much time as you like to explore and wander the church. Lots to see including the oldest crypt in Britain and Ireland, the massive vaulted ceilings and access into the belfry. [Review 1829 of 2024 - 87 in Republic of Ireland - 22851 overall]
Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin was founded in 1030 by a Viking, Norse King Sitric Silkenbeard. It's also very beautiful and has its original floor. We gotta talk about the heart. St Laurence O'Toole's is the Patron Saint of Dublin. O'Toole died in northern France in 1180, but his heart was returned to Dublin and installed at the cathedral, where it remained for over 800 years. It was stolen in 2012 but was returned in 2018 intact. You can't make this s*** up. Please Google this. It's nuts.
For our September 2023 visit Religion and Ireland go hand in hand, making Christ Church Cathedral one of Dublin's most important cultural landmarks as the spiritual center of the city. People of all faith are welcome to roam its halls and explore its rich history as Dublin's oldest building through a detailed exhibition and journey through its medieval crypt. Check the church schedule and find out when Evensong is to watch Dublin's best church choir sing their hearts out - there's usually performances four times a week.
It's definitely an architectural masterpiece. The church is just as ornate on the outside as much it is on the inside. the vaulted ceiling's medieval tiled floors. I sat through mass... listening to the choir and organs ... was beautiful!! Strongbow's tomb is inside the church walls. You can also climb up to see the bells. I wouldn't pass on visiting here for sure, esp to the crypts to see the mummified cat and rat. It was mindful experience I think I stood by it for 20min while I million thoughts going through my head. It was just so symbolic I couldn't help thinking how we live as the cat chasing after life (the rat) only to end up suffocating till we die.
I didn't think I'd love touring a church as much as I did. The architecture was insanely cool and the glass windows were so beautiful. The audio tour was quite interesting as well and told so much of the history that had gone on in those walls. A definite visit for anyone into history and amazing architecture!
Beautiful church. This church history's dates back to 1030. Cost of admission is €7, if you opt for the guided tour it's €11. Luckily when I visited it wasn't too busy. I spend quite a long time just looking at the architecture, the structure, the statues. However, it is one of the smaller churches. So I think you can see everything in about 30 minutes to an hour. The church has a lot of oddities. I think the biggest draw is the medieval crypt. One of the most peculiar display is a mummified cat and rat. Apparently, during a maintenance routine the remains of the cat and the rat were found inside the organ. It seems like the cat chased the rat and both got stuck in a pipe of an organ. Pretty interesting! 4 stars. Definitely check out this gorgeous church and its oddities if you're ever in Dublin.
This enormous church clearly has a tremendous history. Founded around AD 1030, the earliest aspects of the modern structure date to the 1180s funded by famed nobleman Richard "Strongbow" de Clare (who was reputedly buried within). Most of the nave you now see was constructed in the 1230s with major additions in the 1350s. After being condemned during the 19th century, the cathedral was salvaged during its extensive remodel in the 1870s. The rebuild was orchestrated by the leading architect of the Victorian Gothic revival G.E. Street. He was simultaneously working on the modern-day Royal Courts of Justice building in London. The floor of the cathedral is most stunning and colorful! Perhaps owing to my somewhat childish humor, I was most captivated by the cat and the rat who were trapped in an organ pipe in the 1850s mid-pursuit! Having been extricated, they're mummified remains are on display.
25 days ago
What a fascinating find for us! On our way to a well-known Dublin landmark, we came upon this church and decided to discover more since the exterior piqued our curiosity. The interior is both expansive and beautiful, with colored tiled flooring and separated areas with baptismal fonts and altar areas. I found the history fascinating. Yes, the mummified cat and rat are on display (a fun story there) as well as a copy of the Magna Carta. The church still holds services, and in the past, has been used for filming television episodes and movies. In the crypt, i saw some wardrobes worn by the characters. However, I'm still struck by the date on a foundation stone for an earlier structure on this site, protected by plexiglass at the gift shop, is around 1,030 AD! The United States of America, where I live, is only 250 years old!! MISC While not free, the fee to go inside was affordable. We chose the self-guided tour option, although both guided and an audio are additionally offered. Plan to spend at least an hour here. read more
The Christ Church Cathedral is older than St. Patrick's Cathedral founded around 1028. It was previously of Roman Catholic denomination, but is now a Church of Ireland. The Christ Church had a very similar style as St. Patrick's cathedral -- two beautiful churches in a beautiful city. The story of the Cathedral begins almost a thousand years ago when a Viking king erected the first church here. Over the next thousand years, the church was ruined, rebilled and restored many times. Today, Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. An important relic in the Christ Church Cathedral is St. Laurence O'Toole's heart. St. Laurence O'Toole is the Saint of Dublin so the relic is nicknamed the heart of Dublin. According to the Irish Time's the relic was stolen in 2012 and then miraculously found in a park unharmed in a plastic bag in 2018. At the west end of the cathedral is a fully integrated stone bridge, a Dublin landmark, leading to the former synod hall. This hall, which incorporates the old St Michael's tower, is now home to the "Dublinia" exhibition about medieval Dublin. Christ Church Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, only became part of the Church of Ireland following the English Reformation. read more
10 months ago
Beautiful piece of history! This cathedral is beautiful with different sections of the church for viewing. There is a room for prayer off to the side in addition to viewing and a gift shop. The most interesting part for me was "The cat and the Rat". There was a cat that lived in the church that was chasing a rat. The poor pair got stuck in an organ pipe and petrified over time. They rescued the remains and put them on display. It was interesting to me! They still hold services in this church too. read more
We visited Christ Church Friday, September 12. It was a wet and cool day so we did not walk around the gardens. The church is incredible on the outside and in. You pay an admission fee to enter and take the self-guided tour. They provide a pamphlet to read as you move from room to room with great information about the history and use of the space. The main level is stunning. Beneath, you venture into the medieval crypt. This was amazing. Christ Church is completely worth the time and small fee. read more
2 years ago
Spectacular church! The Christ Church Cathedral makes a statement. You can't go to Dublin Ireland without seeing this beautiful cathedral. It's eye catching because of the gothic style and the architecture. It's a beautiful cathedral and pictures don't quite do it justice! It is a must see for sure. As many have stated, this cathedral has some history and has been around for a very long time. read more
10 months ago
Dublins Anglican cathedral is fairly small but packs a punch. Its medieval architecture is delightful and the original architectural features and floors are still beautifully preserved. I understand that cathedrals are extraordinarily expensive to maintain, but charging entry is a bit distasteful. They have to balance between tourists and worshippers, but paying to go in takes the reverence away for me. Ordinarily I'd go to a service to experience the cathedral but they did not have any on the day that I went. In the basement they have the mummified remains of a cat and a rat that were found in the church organ. read more
Founded in the 11th century, improved and rebuilt over the centuries, this is the main church of Ireland's Archbishop of Dublin since the Irish Reformation in the 1500s. It is a beautiful cathedral and it is not free. Self-guided tours are €11 (though included with the Dublin Pass) and that's not an excessive fee considering that you can take as much time as you like to explore and wander the church. Lots to see including the oldest crypt in Britain and Ireland, the massive vaulted ceilings and access into the belfry. [Review 1829 of 2024 - 87 in Republic of Ireland - 22851 overall] read more
Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin was founded in 1030 by a Viking, Norse King Sitric Silkenbeard. It's also very beautiful and has its original floor. We gotta talk about the heart. St Laurence O'Toole's is the Patron Saint of Dublin. O'Toole died in northern France in 1180, but his heart was returned to Dublin and installed at the cathedral, where it remained for over 800 years. It was stolen in 2012 but was returned in 2018 intact. You can't make this s*** up. Please Google this. It's nuts. read more
For our September 2023 visit Religion and Ireland go hand in hand, making Christ Church Cathedral one of Dublin's most important cultural landmarks as the spiritual center of the city. People of all faith are welcome to roam its halls and explore its rich history as Dublin's oldest building through a detailed exhibition and journey through its medieval crypt. Check the church schedule and find out when Evensong is to watch Dublin's best church choir sing their hearts out - there's usually performances four times a week. read more
3 years ago
It's definitely an architectural masterpiece. The church is just as ornate on the outside as much it is on the inside. the vaulted ceiling's medieval tiled floors. I sat through mass... listening to the choir and organs ... was beautiful!! Strongbow's tomb is inside the church walls. You can also climb up to see the bells. I wouldn't pass on visiting here for sure, esp to the crypts to see the mummified cat and rat. It was mindful experience I think I stood by it for 20min while I million thoughts going through my head. It was just so symbolic I couldn't help thinking how we live as the cat chasing after life (the rat) only to end up suffocating till we die. read more
3 years ago
I didn't think I'd love touring a church as much as I did. The architecture was insanely cool and the glass windows were so beautiful. The audio tour was quite interesting as well and told so much of the history that had gone on in those walls. A definite visit for anyone into history and amazing architecture! read more
If you love architecture or are into history, you have to checkout Christ Church Cathedral. It's absolutely beautiful. We even got to sit in on a service and it was a nice experience. There's also a crypt in the basement that I found to be very cool. read more
Toured this amazing Church today! If you love churches and appreciate architecture, this is a must see in Dublin. It was a cloudy/sunny day so the lighting was perfect! The wet stones against the blue background was breathtaking! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Beautiful church. This church history's dates back to 1030. Cost of admission is €7, if you opt for the guided tour it's €11. Luckily when I visited it wasn't too busy. I spend quite a long time just looking at the architecture, the structure, the statues. However, it is one of the smaller churches. So I think you can see everything in about 30 minutes to an hour. The church has a lot of oddities. I think the biggest draw is the medieval crypt. One of the most peculiar display is a mummified cat and rat. Apparently, during a maintenance routine the remains of the cat and the rat were found inside the organ. It seems like the cat chased the rat and both got stuck in a pipe of an organ. Pretty interesting! 4 stars. Definitely check out this gorgeous church and its oddities if you're ever in Dublin. read more
7 years ago
This enormous church clearly has a tremendous history. Founded around AD 1030, the earliest aspects of the modern structure date to the 1180s funded by famed nobleman Richard "Strongbow" de Clare (who was reputedly buried within). Most of the nave you now see was constructed in the 1230s with major additions in the 1350s. After being condemned during the 19th century, the cathedral was salvaged during its extensive remodel in the 1870s. The rebuild was orchestrated by the leading architect of the Victorian Gothic revival G.E. Street. He was simultaneously working on the modern-day Royal Courts of Justice building in London. The floor of the cathedral is most stunning and colorful! Perhaps owing to my somewhat childish humor, I was most captivated by the cat and the rat who were trapped in an organ pipe in the 1850s mid-pursuit! Having been extricated, they're mummified remains are on display. read more
Beautiful cathedral and worth a visit if you love churches, history, or stained glass. Dating back to the 12th Century, the building has been remodeled and expanded through the late 19th century. You can stroll through various chapels and see tombs here. Don't miss the crypt, which offers some lovely artifacts from the cathedral's history. read more
While walking through Dublin we came upon this beautiful cathedral and decided to go inside. Some renovations were being done but you could still go inside. It is older than St. Patrick's. It was founded around 1028. As most cathedrals there are beautiful stained glass panels and a beautiful alter. You are able to wander through the church. It is a beautiful place to sit and reflect on what is happening in the world and in your life. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I loved this place. There's a senior discount if you're interested in that but even at regular price it's fabulous. Do go down to the crypt and see the treasures and the mummy cat and rat. Also there's a nice informative movie. Upstairs make sure to see Strongbow,'s grave. He's the Anglo Norman knight who took over parts of Ireland with his Welsh archers. They have lunch and evening concerts here. We had the good luck to go to an evening (Free!!!) Choral concert. It was magical. I was sitting just a few feet from Strongbow wondering what he'd make of the Central California choir. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
The architecture and history here is amazing. This was my 2nd Cathedral in Dublin and the only thing I had to compare it to is St. Patrick's Cathedral down the road. This place has amazing gothic architecture on the outside. It cost 6 Euros for a self-guided tour. For comparison, it costs 5 Euros for a pint of Guinness. It did not take long to see, I was in and out in 30 minutes. One could spend hours here if they wanted to as there are so many things to read on the various sculptures, statues and memorials here. The stained glass has so much detail and the sculptures/statues are amazing. This cathedral has a bonus to it in the basement (crypt) has some exhibits with various relics, statues and sculptures. This was cool because although St. Patrick's overall was more impressive, it did not have access to the basement. St. Patrick's appears to be larger on the inside. It was awesome outside as well as inside and must have taken so much time and detailed work to get it to look as it does. read more
11 years ago
Christ Church is the other Church of Ireland Cathedral in Dublin and seat of the Bishop of Dublin and Glendalough. Saint Patrick is Ireland's National Cathedral. Both it and Saint Patrick are breathtaking inside and exquisite, though Saint Patrick's is much larger. There is also a history that goes along with each. Christ Church was believed to be an original Viking settlement going back to 1028 and King Sitric Silkenbeardand. The Dublinia exhibit is located next door. We came here for the tour, after missing Evensong. Both Cathedrals offer it as part of their musical ministry and worship service. It you are unfamiliar, it is the singing of the evening service program and similar to Compline. The church choir sings many hymns, along with the Song of Simeon, or the "The Nunc Dimittis" from St Luke, see below from TEC's BCP: "Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen." Their crypt area is also amazing, which you should make time for only because of the their mummified cat and the rat exhibit. A side note, their is a history of the Jameson family being a major benefactor of Christ Church, while Saint Patrick Cathedral is more associated with the Guinness family. Enjoy! read more
12 years ago
If you visit Dublin you must ring the church bells at Christ Church Cathedral. It's an experience of a lifetime! Guided tours of the cathedral and belfry are available throughout the year. The cost is €6 to tour the cathedral and an additional €4 for a guided tour of the belfry. The €4 charge for the belfry tour is well worth it. Where else can you ring bells in a church that dates back over a thousand years? During the belfry tour you will have the opportunity to climb up to the bell tower and see one of the most spectacular views of Dublin. You will also learn about the history of ringers (campanologists) by a practicing ringer and teacher. At the end of the short history lesson visitors get the opportunity to ring the famous bells under expert supervision. This spectacular church dates back to 1038 and is in the heart of Dublin, nearby to several main tourist attractions. Highlights of Christ Church Cathedral include the medieval crypt (one of the largest crypts in Ireland), Strongbow's Tomb, mummified cat and rat "Tom & Jerry", the stained glass windows, the 45 foot tall grand organ, and the Tudors' Exhibition. For those that do not wish to ring the bells or tour the church there is an alternative way to enter the church for free. You can attend the weekly worship services or the weekly choir performances. Sung service times may vary so be sure to double check times with the church http://www.christchurchdublin.ie/Cathedral_Services/152 read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
The outside view was beautiful. I, especially, loved the sculpture of the homeless man on the bench. I personally feel that it hits you on the head with emotion. I loved looking at this from the outside. The inside was lovely with its beautiful arches, stained glass, and mosaic tiles on the floor. The crypt was my husband's favorite part. It had ancient books, silver pieces from prior leaders, and tombs. We didn't get to see many things as we were only briefly in Dublin, but I'm glad this was one of the places we went to. read more
9 years ago
Surprisingly, Christ Church Cathedral is not a Catholic church. I guess I automatically associate most cathedrals with Catholicism and given the history of Ireland, I didn't think twice about the potential origins until we read more into it. One of the most interesting aspects was the "competition" with St. Patrick's Cathedral and how each church was renovated with assistance from a couple of famous families (Guinness for St. Patrick's and Jameson for Christ Church). The church itself is beautiful. There is stained glass on every wall, a large organ, and a crypt underneath. I had been to other pretty churches before but this was the first crypt. It was interesting and as dungeon-y as you'd expect. 4 stars. read more
It was a very good, but changed to excellent experience when we had joined the guided tour. Our perspective became much deeper listening (guide was very entertaining) and learning about the historic fact related to the CCC. We highly recommend joining guided tour. read more
A must-see destination while in Dublin. The grounds are compact, but, there is plenty to see of the ancient ruins around the building. The interior is well worth braving the crowds to see during the height of the tourist season. The stories that are contained in this place are a wonder. This a place to take your time and consider. read more
7 years ago
The best part about Dublin are the people and bars, the churches struggle to match the rest of Europe. Christchurch is probably the best that Dublin has to offer, worth a visit. read more
17 years ago
As Nate says this building truly is impressive from the outside, but it is also really cool on the inside too! There is a statue of Strongbow, not the cider maker but the hero, his tomb is thought to be here too! There is an iron heart shaped box which contains the heart of St Laurence O Toole and there is a really cool crypt with a mummified cat and mouse! Cool!! Plus the place itself is well old and original pieces can be seen dating back from the 12th Century. Also, if you can approach the building from the River Liffey do so as it is much more impressive from the back, which it is how it was originally intended to been seen. There is also a short video presentation about the history shown to visitors and it is still a fully working church so services are held. It is really worth going when there is a choral mass on and on the 4th Sunday of every month at 5pm there is mass in Irish! So if you are looking for something different and really Irish check that service. The Christ Church website is full of all really useful information so check it out! read more
Even though I've lived in Dublin all my life I've never been here until we made it part of Culture Night 2015. Highlights of Christ Church. I mean never mind the building itself - that left me more than a little awestruck! Strongbow's tomb, the treasures in the crypt, the mummified Tom & Jerry (the cat and the rat that were trapped in an organ in the 1860s) and the Magna Carta 800 celebration. This should definitely be a must do for any tourists or even native Dubliners who have never been. read more
10 years ago
Definitely lived up to the hype. I didn't realize (not that it matters) that Dublin's two major cathedrals were Church of Ireland and not Catholic. Go check out the crypts. It made me feel like I was in the crypts of Winterfell. Going on a GoT your tomorrow so there's that. Anyway, I enjoyed the costume exhibit from the Tudors. I still say Jonathan Rhys-Meyers wasn't right for the role of Henry VIII. read more
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3 years ago
Christ Church Cathedral - churches - Updated May 2026
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