Dean Swift – His Association with St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Dean Swift – His Association with St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

18 Sep 1954

One of the earliest references to be found to the Irish-settlement of Dubh Linn (Black’ Pool)’ is in the eleventh century life of St. Kevin of Glendalough who flourished in the 6th century A.D. The settlement was on the banks’ of the River Poddle, where it entered the River Liffey. It had four churches —St. Michil-le-Pole, St. Brigid’s, St. Kevin’s and St. Patrick’s. All four churches were built on the banks of the Poddle and within a few hundred yards of the “Black Pool, the junction of the two rivers which gave the City its name. The Ath Cliath (Ford of the Hurdles) from which the Irish name of Dublin (Baile Atha _Cliath) is derived, was near the present Queen’s Street Bridge, the narrowest point of the Liffey, and the great road—the Slighe Cualann – Tara passed over the Liffey at the Ford. The ancient church of St. Patrick was on the island of the Poddle (the present Patrick’s Street). In 1179 the church was confirmed among other parochial churches of Dublin diocese, to St. Lorcan ua Tuathail by Pope Alexander III. Archbishop Comyn, the first Anglo-Norman Bishop in Dublin, was the successor to St. Lorcan. Prince John during a visit in 1185 granted to Comyn a. forest area (Coilllaicht) in the upper basin of the River Dodder. This grant made him a feudal baron with the right to hold courts in his lordship. At the time the Archbishop’s residence’ stood beside the Priory of Holy Trinity (now Christ Church) Cathedral, and was subject to civic jurisdiction. V/_lien Archbishop Comyn received a grant of a Carucate (120 acres) outside the walls of Dublin) he transferred his residence there and called it St. (Holy) Sepulchre’s. St. Patrick’s on the island stood adjacent, but was too old and small for an archiepiscopal church. Comyn built the new Cathedral in its place, and consecrated it to “God, Our Blessed Lady Mary, “and St. Patrick.” on St. Patrick’s Day, 1192. The Papal Legate, Matthew O’Heney, Archbishop of Cashel, is said to have been present on the occasion. “Perfect Symmetry and Simplicity ” A new structure was erected in place of Comyn’s Cathedral in the early 13th century. It was modelled on Salisbury Cathedral, the design “of perfect symmetry and simplicity, was of Latin cross embodying naive, choir and transepts, on the lines of Comyn’s church, but all having aisles.” The Annals of Ulster tell us that it was consecrated in 1254 A.D. It suffered considerably through the centuries and was “restored”on many occasions. It was set on fire in 1315 by the citizens to check the Bruce invasion and its spire was blown down in 1316. It suffered more seriously from a second fire in 1362. By 1560 the whole church was in a decayed and ruinous state. It was then renovated to some extent, and a. granite spire was added in 1705. By 1787, however, it was again in a state of decay, and was finally renovated completely in 1864, The most famous Dean of St. Patrick’s was, of course,’Jonathan Swift. -Born in Dublin of British parents, on the- ; 30th November, 1667, he was educated at Kilkenny School, and proceeded to take his B.A. degree in Trinity College, Dublin. In 1692 he completed his academic studies with an M.A. degree at Oxford. In 1699 he became a member of the Chapter of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “The Tale of a. Tub,” one of his first satirical tracts, » was published during his visit to London in 1704, but ho continued_^ to devote himself to ; ecclesiastical matters until 1709. In that year he returned to England where he began the political pamphleteering which brought him into the public eye with a series of attacks on the Whig Viceroy in Ireland, Lord Wharton. .It was during the period of this visit that he . began the famous ” Journal to Stella” in 165 letters of which he mirrors _tha politics and social life of his time, , and his character and private life at the height of his political career in London. The journal ended in 1713, the year in which he was made Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral [more information omitted but might be useful in St Patrick Cathedral section]

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