Around and about St. Patrick’s Cathedral

14 Apr 1929

In his splendid story of O’ Connell and Catholic Emancipation Mr. Michael Donagh quotes the Liberator as stating:—”It was the Union which stirred me to come forward in politics, I was maddened when I heard the bells of St. Patrick’s Cathedral ringing out a joyful peal for Ireland’s degradation, as if it were a glorious national festival. My blood boiled, and I vowed on that morning that the dishonour should not last if I could put an end to it.” Indeed to all true Irish hearts St. Patrick’s Cathedral can always appeal. There is the tradition that it covers tho sanctified ground on which our National Apostle constructed a small wooden church in the year 448. Adjoining, was a holy well, where those won from paganism were baptised Father Myles Ronan, in his compilation on “The Poddle River and its Branches,” has shown that olden memories are often accurate. In the year 1901 an ancient stone was found in front of and a little to the north of the Cathedral. On it were inscribed Celtic crosses. Attention is drawn to Sir Thomas Drew’6 comment in his copy of Mason’s St. Patrick’s bearing on this remarkable discovery:—

The Well of St. Patrick, June 16, 1901. — The site of this was discovered in course of opening up the old arched course of tho Poddle on tho east side of Patrick’s Street.’by Spencer Harty. City Surveyor to build a new tunnel (with concrete). It was identified by Archbishop Usher’s description – (1590) and J. Malton’s reference (1795) as published by me 1889, within ten feet of the spot indicated by me. It was marked by an ancient granite stone marked with two crosses in high, clear relief, one within a ring with rays at tho upper cornerstone a plain cross. This was built into the west side of the tunnel. It was removed to tho Cathedral June 19, 1901.

Concerning the Well itself Sir Thomas Drew observes.—

The Well had disappeared. Mr. Harty. with me, attributes this to a diversion of the Poddle by an arched culvert which directed the water-power along the west front of the Cathedral, turned a cornmill built against the west front of the Cathedral itself , and gave its name to the “Cross Poddie,” and went on to grind at other mills. This diversion, and its great stone culvert, was probably made in the time of Charles II., and eliminated the Well itself. It could be no mere coincidence that this remarkable stone found by Mr. Harty built into tho north wall of the Poddle culvert, was on the exact spot whore ft. Patrick’s Well was looked for St. Patrick’s on the Island.”

Thus it was that mindful of such hallowed associations, the Anglo-Normans begun the erection of their famous fane. Otherwise the site was not prudently selected. Although not until 1245 were the waters of the Poddle and Dodder rivers mated, the embracing arms of the Poddle in St. Patrick Street, so often swollen by mountain torrents, secured for the new edifice the description of “St. Patrick’s in insula.'”

From the pages of Sir James Ware to the tonic of Monk Mason there is a great deal of matter dealing with this temple. On occasions the archbishops seemed desirous to transfer to it the metropolitan see. Rivalries were, therefore, begotten between it and Christ Church, particularly during the thirteenth century.

The basis of a compromise was reached under Pope Boniface VIII., in the year 1299, when Dublin was left in its extraordinary possession of two cathedrals, that of the Holy Trinity being regarded as senior and superior.

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