Lesley Anne, Education Officer, Christ Church
Written by Lesley Anne, Education Officer, Christ Church
I love walking, especially in the city, so my perfect day would probably start off with a stroll in from Kilmainham where I live, via the beautiful formal gardens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. On my way into town I walk down James Street, past the famous St James’s Gate Brewery (home of Guinness), and then Thomas Street so I’d pop in to Mannings Bakery for breakfast – they do a great traditional Irish breakfast.
I’d love to spend the day going to all those interesting nooks and crannies around where I work: the places you walk past all the time and think ‘I must go back there’ – places like Marsh’s Library near St Patrick’s or The Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle, maybe popping into the Bite of Life café on Patrick Street for a salad and some carrot and orange juice to undo the effects of my morning fry-up…
As well as working as part of the cathedral administration I sing in the cathedral choir and Christ Church really is one of my favourite places in the city, so I think I’d probably finish off here. The best service of the year is the Easter Vigil which happens on Holy Saturday: the service starts off at 9pm in total darkness and one by one candles are lit until the cathedral is filled with light to symbolise the beginning of Easter. Even if you aren’t religious it feels really special to take part in this important service, which has been happening on the same site for nearly 1000 years.
Oh and maybe a sneaky little pint afterwards in the Lord Edward over the road would round the day off nicely, if that isn’t too irreverent!
