Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is your Cathedral, steeped in living history and tales of famous characters past and present. We are one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions and one of Dublin’s most admired places. But step inside and you will discover that the Cathedral is a centre of imaginative and immersive learning for all people, regardless of their background.
What’s on offer?
The Cathedral Education Department provides students of all ages an interactive encounter with this sacred space. We offer a wide range of thematic guided tours and workshops, which can be tailored to your chosen learning objectives and the school curriculum. All of these activities are free for Irish school and university students who attend as part of an organised education visit.
Activities & Workshops
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Self-guided visit
Groups may choose to explore the Cathedral on their own, using it as a resource, with which to meet their specific learning goals. Learning resources, such as worksheets, can be provided and groups may also book a seated space with tables in the Cathedral. This is a good option if you are short on time or would simply prefer to direct your students' learning yourself.
Upon booking a self-guided educational visit, a member of staff will greet you at the door, show you into the Cathedral and to your reserved space (if requested), and deliver any requested worksheets. If your group is small enough, we may be able to provide audio guides; however, at peak times, we will be unable to facilitate larger groups' use of these.
Use of the Discovery Space (alongside other members of the public) is permitted during this visit.
Time: N/A | Ages: N/A | Participants: N/A
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Guided Tours
Cathedral tours can be offered by our dedicated and experienced tour guide team. Tours can be tailored to include greater levels of depth on relevant topics, so as to complement specific subjects being studied by the group.
Normally each educational visit would begin with a guided tour. Upon completion of the tour, groups may return to the Discovery Space for self-led activities or additional workshops as booked.
Time: 45 mins | Ages: 8+ | Participants: Max 30
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Medieval Workshop
After a guided tour of the Cathedral explains who the Anglo-Normans were and what the building was like in the medieval period, the group divides into smaller groups for a host of activities including:
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- Brass rubbing
- Calligraphy
- Arch building
- Tile making
Time: 45 mins | Ages: 8+ | Participants: Max 30
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Stained Glass Window Workshop
After a guided tour of the Cathedral, concentrating on some of the beautiful stained glass windows, students will be shown how to go about producing their own versions.
Students will choose a concept, story or theme for their window and then spend some time creating their own masterpiece!
n.b. Students create their design with paper and card, not real glass.
Time: 45 mins | Ages: 8+ | Participants: Max 30
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Life of Saint Patrick Drama Workshop
The story of Saint Patrick is that of slavery, escape, triumph, and storytelling. Students can learn all about who Saint Patrick was and what he did by acting out his life. After a tour of the Cathedral, students will discover the story of Patrick. This is through discussion, possibly enhanced with colouring worksheets. After this, students are warmed up with some drama exercises, before acting out some aspects of Patrick's life.
Time: 45 mins | Ages: 13+ | Participants: Max 15
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Music Workshop
Music is an integral part of what the Cathedral does. For centuries, the Cathedral Choir and organists have adorned our services with music, with some of the best musicians working at the Cathedral.
From the medieval music of the past, to Handel's well-known oratorio Messiah, to the contemporary choral music of today, Saint Patrick's Cathedral has many stories to tell.
After a tour of the Cathedral, focusing on the Cathedral Choir, their stalls, and their daily pattern of worship, students are introduced to our WOOFYT: a wooden one-octave organ for young technologists. A skilled facilitator will then talk about how organs work and allow students the opportunity to work together to make their own music.
Although music can seem like a world apart from science, technology and engineering, there are lots of connections to be explored. The WOOFYT makes these connections visible and audible, linking music in a simple and direct way with the physics of fluids and the technology of pumps and valves.
Time: 60 mins | Ages: 9+ | Participants: Max 20
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Prayer & Praise Workshop
There are few other places in Dublin which have a religious history, which extends back to the time of Saint Patrick and is still an active place of worship.
After a tour of the Cathedral, concentrating on the building from a worship perspective, students have a session discovering our religious and liturgical background, before attempting to devise their own services and writing their own prayers. The focus of this session will be tailored to the present time within the Church liturgical year, making it most accessible at times such as Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, etc..
This workshop would pair well with the Clergy Q&A workshop.
Time: 45 mins | Ages: 13+ | Participants: Max 30
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Clergy Q&A / Multi-Faith Chat
Depending on the availability of the Cathedral Clergy, it may be possible to arrange a question and answer session for your group. This is an excellent opportunity to ask a priest any questions that the students have about religion and the Cathedral, especially within the context of the Church of Ireland.
We are lucky that our residentiary clergy are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and would offer a rare and unique insight for students of any age.
Alternatively, it may be possible to arrange speakers of different denominations and faiths to come together and address questions in an informal, relaxed setting.
n.b. Though there is an element of live interaction, it is helpful to have prepared the questions in advance, so that both the group and attending participants know what to expect.
Time: 45 mins | Ages: 13+ | Participants: Max 30
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Observation and Sketching Opportunities
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the perfect location for art students looking for some inspiration. Dramatic Gothic architecture, beautiful stained glass windows, and fascinating memorials at every turn provide ample opportunity to carry out observation and sketching.
A guided tour can be provided which will point out some of the interesting elements of the Cathedral and a small seating area can be booked if students need a private space to work.
Time: N/A | Ages: All | Participants: Max 30
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Jonathan Swift Workshop
Jonathan Swift is one of the Cathedral's most famous figures. After a guided tour of his Cathedral, concentrating on how it would have been during Swift's time, students are shown specific artefacts relating to Jonathan Swift.
If students are not aware of his work, we can introduce them to his writings and his legacy, before showing them some interesting items, such as his skull and death mask!
Time: 30 mins | Ages: 13+ | Participants: Max 30
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Worksheets & Colouring Books
As part of your visit to the Cathedral, we can offer you worksheets and information for all age levels and abilities both before you arrive, during your visit, and to take away with you to consolidate what you have learnt.
These include, but are not limited to:
- The Life of Saint Patrick Window Colouring Sheets
- Treasure Hunt Trail
- Primary / Secondary School Activity Packs
- Jonathan Swift & Gulliver's Travels
- Cathedral Quiz
- Music Games
- Examples of Cathedral Services & Prayers
If you would like to learn more about these, please contact the Education Department: schools@stpatrickscathedral.ie
Transport Subsidy for Visiting Education Groups
We recognise that, for many schools, a trip to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral may be challenging to facilitate due to distance, funding, or a wide variety of other factors. To increase accessibility to the Cathedral for a broader range of students across Ireland, we offer a transport subsidy programme for educational visits. Depending on your group’s location and financial situation, we may be able to offer support by partially subsidising the costs of transportation to and from the Cathedral.
If you are interested in applying for the transport subsidy, please indicate this and provide the relevant information on your booking form. A member of the Education Department will be in touch about your request. If you have any questions about the transport subsidy programme, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Schools Officer at edassist@stpatrickscathedral.ie.
Terms & Conditions
The free education programme offer does not apply to foreign language groups, schools from outside the island of Ireland, or any groups that charge their members. Participation in these educational visits is entirely dependent on availability of staff and at the discretion of the Education Officer and the Dean and Chapter.
Education Department Staff
Kryzel Bonifacio | Schools Officer
+353 1 453 9472 (ext 211) | education@stpatrickscathedral.ie
Get in touch with me for any enquiries regarding educational group bookings!
