Nowadays these splendid apartments are used ceremonially by the Government and are closed to the public on such occasions. It is fronted by a green churchyard in which there are remains of the old chapter house build in 1230. The exterior of the Cathedral was restored in the lavish and flamboyant meaner in 1875 at the expense of a wealthy Dublin whiskey distiller. The crypt underneath the Cathedral is its oldest part, dating from 1172. It now houses An Taisce, the Irish National Trust.
Steps lead to Dublin's oldest parish church.
St. Audoen's which dated from the 12th century and now stands much in ruins. Its tower contains three of Ireland's oldest bells which date from 1423. Dublin's Oldest pub. It is believed that an inn stood here even in Viking times, but the present building dates front 1668. Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet and Daniel O'Connell were among its patrons.