St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

Circa 1191, during the episcopate of John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin, the original, wooden, Celtic church was raised to the status of cathedral. The present building, the largest church in Ireland, was built between 1200 and 1270.

Throughout its long history the cathedral had contributed much to Irish life. The writer and satirist Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, was Dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745. His grave and epitaph can be seen in the cathedral.

The Choir School was founded in 1432 and many of its members took part in the very first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742.

From 1783 until 1871 the cathedral served as the Chapel of the Most Illustrious Order Saint Patrick[?], members of which were the Knights of St. Patrick[?]. The heraldic banners of the knights still hang over the choir stalls to this day.

External link The website below is a mine of information on the history of the cathedral, on the Knights of St. Patrick and on the Choir School.