In Dublin’s old town, the arresting 12th century Gothic St Patrick’s Cathedral, set amidst large expansive lawns, is a landmark that is hard to miss and difficult not to admire. It is equally impressive inside with an array of carvings, statues, stained glass details, an organ, altars and a plethora of historical monuments and references. Prominent among these is the bust as well as grave of writer Jonathan Swift who was also a dean of the cathedral. Interestingly, his grave lies adjacent to that of Esther Johnson, known as Stella in his writings; Swift was her tutor and mentor but their relationship was ambiguous and never clearly established. Round the corner from the church, a series of municipal flats also bear reliefs depicting scenes from Swift’s iconic work Gulliver’s Travels.
Jonathan Swift’s grave in St Patrick’s Church
In Dublin’s old town, the arresting 12th century Gothic St Patrick’s Cathedral, set amidst large expansive lawns, is a landmark that is hard to miss and difficult not to admire. It is equally impressive inside with an array of carvings, statues, stained glass details, an organ, altars and a plethora of historical monuments and references. Prominent among these is the bust as well as grave of writer Jonathan Swift who was also a dean of the cathedral. Interestingly, his grave lies adjacent to that of Esther Johnson, known as Stella in his writings; Swift was her tutor and mentor but their relationship was ambiguous and never clearly established. Round the corner from the church, a series of municipal flats also bear reliefs depicting scenes from Swift’s iconic work Gulliver’s Travels.
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