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'The beating heart of Dublin is here': Returned Heart of St Laurence to go on public display tomorrow

After going missing in 2012 the relic of the Patron Saint of Dublin will finally be going back on display in Christ Church Cathedral.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

STOLEN SIX YEARS ago, the Heart of St Laurence O’Toole was thought to have been lost forever from the chapels of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. 

But after a garda investigation and an anonymous tip-off, the ancient relic was found this year and will now be back on display for the public tomorrow.

Reverend Dermot Dunne of Christ Church Cathedral says he held a belief that the heart would come back.

It’s a tangible link with the past and with a saint that’s revered as the Patron Saint of Dublin.

Born in Co Kildare in 1132, St Laurence was bishop of Glendalough before becoming Archbishop of Dublin during the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.

He would later die in Northern France while on pilgrimage to Rome in 1180. He was made a saint in 1226. 

The Heart will be on free public display from 9.30am to 2pm tomorrow with a special ceremony in the evening.

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    Mute Bernie Linnane
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:35 PM

    Any sign of the Holy Stone of Clonrickert?

    185
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    Mute David Byrne
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:36 PM

    @Bernie Linnane: it’s yet to be ‘extracted’

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    Mute Gavin Boyce
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:50 PM

    I hear it’s been upgraded to a class 5 relic.

    102
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    Mute Fachtna
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    Nov 13th 2018, 11:45 PM

    @Gavin Boyce: it’s already class 1. Seriously!

    https://youtu.be/AZTX0RBlqnM

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    Mute Paul A Whelan
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:52 PM

    Revolting idea. Are we not yet past this primative way of thinking?

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Nov 13th 2018, 8:08 PM

    @Paul A Whelan: Yea. As if you don’t have body pieces of your deceased loved ones hidden around your house

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    Mute David McShite
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:38 PM

    @Paul A Whelan: We actually are, it’s really only a fairytale to get the yanks into Christchurch and part with cash.

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    Mute Brian Buckley
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    Nov 15th 2018, 10:01 AM

    @Paul A Whelan: happened a long time ago bud. The past is important regardless of how unpalatable it may be.

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    Mute Mick Madden
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:44 PM

    Fairy story time !

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Nov 14th 2018, 6:50 PM

    @Mick Madden: looks like a chastity belt in image presented

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:48 PM

    OMG is this actually real????

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    Mute David Byrne
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:51 PM

    @Jun Stone: yes but that’s just a heart shaped box. The actual heart is contained within this box.

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    Mute Kevin O'Donnell
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:53 PM

    @David Byrne: ugghhhh

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:26 PM

    There are enough relics of the true cross to build an ark.

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    Mute Kevin Barry
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    Nov 14th 2018, 6:22 AM

    @Paul Furey: see what you done there

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    Mute dublincomments
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    Nov 13th 2018, 8:01 PM

    Didn’t he take part in the handover of Ireland to England? Yes he did.

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    Mute Colm Lyons
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:48 PM

    Heart of stone that lad

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    Mute Celia Murphy
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:07 PM

    Did somebody actually take his hear out?..and why?

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:26 PM

    @Celia Murphy: Deafinitley idiocy

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    Mute Fachtna
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    Nov 13th 2018, 11:42 PM

    @Celia Murphy: nothing on TV that night, probably. Plus electricity yet to be discovered. Though, equally can’t rule out the possibility that a game of rock-paper-scissors didn’t go horribly wrong….

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    Mute leanne nueva
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    Nov 14th 2018, 1:31 AM

    @Celia Murphy: he died in France so the heart was probably the best part of him to represent him for a far less smelly return of his remains to Ireland. Some churches have the leg bone, there’s millions of padre pio tiny leaflets with a tiny piece of cloth and so on. Holy relics, go to the right churches and you can queue up to hold one and pray for a minute with it, it’s (I don’t want to say fun, but, sorta!) part of an ancient feeling of Irishness that still goes on. Absolutely respectful comment.

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    Mute Arthur Pewty
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:45 PM

    Looks like my heart…

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    Mute adams
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:13 PM

    You lot are heartless

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    Mute Jimmy Murray
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    Nov 14th 2018, 12:49 PM

    A class one relic. Is that right Yes?

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Nov 14th 2018, 10:43 AM

    Returned after those who stole it saw their families dropping dead of heart attacks, a lesson for everyone?

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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    Nov 14th 2018, 9:49 AM

    The human race truly has a long way to go. Facepalm.

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    Mute Brian Buckley
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    Nov 15th 2018, 10:04 AM

    @Kevin Slater: ahhh we’re ok for the most part

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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    Nov 14th 2018, 9:48 AM

    That would be an ecumenical matter.

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    Nov 14th 2018, 6:24 AM

    Gross!

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    Mute Brian Buckley
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    Nov 15th 2018, 10:04 AM

    @Jun Stone: but very interesting

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    Mute sandra clifford
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    Nov 15th 2018, 12:30 AM

    His heart should be buried with the rest of his body if it is known where the rest of his remains is if not then it should be buried and a headstone put up other wise it’s disgusting his heart is on display no respect for the dead in my opinion

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    Mute Brian Buckley
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    Nov 15th 2018, 10:06 AM

    @sandra clifford: it’s what he wanted. Past funerary practices may be unpalatable today but we can’t judge our ancestors by our standards.

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    Mute sandra clifford
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    Nov 15th 2018, 12:31 AM

    Disgusting

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