St Patrick's Cathedral
Ireland’s national cathedral in Dublin 8 with Gothic architecture, Jonathan Swift’s grave, a Discovery Space for kids and a park with playground right outside.
About
St Patrick's Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland and one of Dublin’s best known landmarks, sitting beside St Patrick’s Park in the heart of the Liberties. Inside, families walk through the long Gothic nave, point out brightly coloured floor tiles, and stop at monuments linked to Irish history, including the grave of Jonathan Swift. Older children tend to linger at the Door of Reconciliation and the banners hanging above the choir stalls, while younger kids are drawn to the cathedral’s Discovery Space with simple hands-on activities and child-friendly information. Visits are mostly self-guided with optional free guided tours during the day, and the choir often sings at services in term time, giving a sense of the building as a living place of worship rather than a museum. Many families combine a short visit inside (about an hour is usually enough with kids) with time in the playground and green space just outside in St Patrick’s Park.
At a Glance
About
St Patrick's Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland and one of Dublin’s best known landmarks, sitting beside St Patrick’s Park in the heart of the Liberties. Inside, families walk through the long Gothic nave, point out brightly coloured floor tiles, and stop at monuments linked to Irish history, including the grave of Jonathan Swift. Older children tend to linger at the Door of Reconciliation and the banners hanging above the choir stalls, while younger kids are drawn to the cathedral’s Discovery Space with simple hands-on activities and child-friendly information. Visits are mostly self-guided with optional free guided tours during the day, and the choir often sings at services in term time, giving a sense of the building as a living place of worship rather than a museum. Many families combine a short visit inside (about an hour is usually enough with kids) with time in the playground and green space just outside in St Patrick’s Park.