Category: Walking Tour

The Origins of Saint Patricks cathedral – part one. 430AD to the early Celtic church.

Important Note 2:  Note on photography, maps, and image credits.  all photographs in this article are by the author, unless otherwise noted.  I’m not precious about it but if you wish to use an image please contact me and if I provide permission naturally I’d like to get a basic acknowledgement and credit and please provide a link… Read More The Origins of Saint Patricks cathedral – part one. 430AD to the early Celtic church.

Arran Henderson25 Comments

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, my favourite place in the world.

As an architecture and history obsessive, I often discuss with my students their favorite Dublin visits and “sights”.   The great medieval Cathedral of Saint Patrick’s came up in class conversation the other day.         I was a little mystified, not to say horrified,  when one of my students shrugged her shoulders, and said it was “so-so” !  … Read More Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, my favourite place in the world.

Arran Henderson18 Comments

Four details… four pictures from Dublin and around Ireland.

A small set of curious pictures,  just four today,  for readers to puzzle over.   In a break with tradition, these images are not all from the capital.  Two pictures are from Dublin, but the other two from elsewhere in Ireland, from much further afield.  Enjoy,  and please feel free to share with friends or colleagues.… Read More Four details… four pictures from Dublin and around Ireland.

Arran Henderson31 Comments

Doors of Dublin…

“there are so many doors to open.  I am impatient to begin…”    – Charlie Gordan,  Flowers for Algernon. Many Dubliners are familiar with the well-known comercial souvenir poster,  prominent in pubs and language schools,  showing a grid of photographs depicting lovely painted Georgian doors.    The simple, elegant Neo-Classical restraint of Georgian doors are of course wonderful.     But,… Read More Doors of Dublin…

Arran Henderson24 Comments

Egyptian Neo-Classical Architecture in Dublin: the Ripples of History. A self-indulgent & speculative wander, through ideas, history, and some favourite Dublin buildings.

In his much-quoted opening of Dublin 1660-1860, the architectural historian Maurice Craig describes how one of the most momentous events in history, the taking of Byzantine Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, had a side effect with unexpected consequences. Byzantium, a huge Christian empire and the surviving eastern half of the old Roman Empire,… Read More Egyptian Neo-Classical Architecture in Dublin: the Ripples of History. A self-indulgent & speculative wander, through ideas, history, and some favourite Dublin buildings.

Arran Henderson7 Comments

Answers to the Dublin street-scape Quiz (could you name 5 from 5?)

Here,  slightly later than advertised,  are the answers to the great Dublin street scape quiz,  along with a few choice pieces of information on some of our featured Dublin buildings…   The prize for this quiz was a pair or family ticket to any Dublin Decoded walking tour.  Just one quick word of warning,  obviously,  if… Read More Answers to the Dublin street-scape Quiz (could you name 5 from 5?)

Arran Henderson1 Comment

The Portlester Tomb, Saint Audoen’s Church, Dublin.

photo credit,  Con O’Donoghue. (copyright 2012) Saint Audoen’s is ancient in origin.   A church dedicated to St Collum Cile stood here in the early Christian era.  It was re-founded in the early Norman period,  and re-dedicated, this time to Saint “Audoen”   Despite centuries of religious turmoil and war in Ireland, it has not… Read More The Portlester Tomb, Saint Audoen’s Church, Dublin.

Arran Henderson20 Comments