Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

I am standing directly to the left of the green man

This afternoon I visited the St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  I took photos around the perimeter of the building prior to the tour lead by a lively docent named Rose. The height of the cathedral ceiling and walls was most impressive, as was the information provided by the tour guide.  I have noted a few interesting tidbits on the cathedral below.

St. Patrick was brought here to Ireland in 432 from Whales and sold into slavery North of Ireland where he tended sheep for seven years.  He escaped and returned to Whales and then became a priest in France.  Legend says that he heard the Irish people calling and he returned and baptized many people in Ireland.  Today you can see the well cover that St. Patrick used to baptize the people in Dublin.

Due to the moisture problems, caused by a river that runs directly below the cathedral, renderings had to be removed from the walls to allow the stone to dry out.  They expect to replace them six months from their removal date.  The stained glass that allows light to spill onto the interior of the cathedral is not original to the 12^th century building, and was replaced later in the.

St. Patrick’s in Dublin is the only Cathedral in Ireland to have a “green man” adorning it pillars.  The “green man” motif can be found on the pillars of both secular and ecclesiastical medieval buildings.  This type of decoration is either surrounded by or created from leaves, from which branches or other vegetation may sprout.  These ornamentations related to natural vegetation deities and were associated with rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring. I was the only one in the tour group who was familiar with the “green man” motifs thanks to my college education in Wisconsin!

Detail of the green man, on center pillar