Checkin' out ST. Patricks Cathedral.
On the 20th of July a large group of us met up in the park beside St. Patricks cathedral. We were met outside the entrance of the church by Kelley Bermingham a former instructor of Cherryfield. Kelley brought us into the middle of the church and gave us the lay of the land by telling us where various places were. once we were quite happy with knowing that, Kelley began the tour of the church stopping at various points of interest and giving us the history and story behind it for example, our lady chapel which was added to the main church 20 years after it was completed and was used by the Huguenots from 1666 to 1816; part of the main door that has a hole cut into it from after Gerald Fitzgerald of the Fitzgeralds of Kildare put his arm through and the leader of the Butlers of Ormonde shook hands to end the feud and that is where the term "chancing your arm" came from. we were informed there was going to be a service held and anyone who wanted to attend it could do so and anyone who didn't could walk around the church and see what they wanted. we were brought to a roped off area where we had tea/coffee, biscuits and sandwiches. after that rest bite we did a bit of craft shop by making our own stain glass window. after that we continued the tour. when the tour was completed we went back to the roped off area where an insight session was held. this session was not only for our group but also for some of the staff who also work closely with Kelley. after the insight session we were given the chance to voice ideas on how to possibly improve the experience for future visitors. All in all and at the end of the day the experience was very enjoyable and was an eye opener to those who never had visited St Patricks Cathedral.
