Avoid This Attraction (St. Michan's Church (Dublin))

Member Name: Edward Farnan

Product:	St. Michan's Church (Dublin)
Date:	08/04/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Church has an interesting history

Disadvantages: Cost

Hello,
My name is Ed. I first visited St Michan's Church and vaults around 37 years ago when I was eight years of age. I remember how haunting it seemed but I was reassured by the adults. On the 6th of April 2009 I was in Dublin for the weekend with my girlfriend Sarah and best friend Gary. I told them of my experience at St Michan's and wondered if they would be interested in a visit. They decided that it might be a good idea.

Secretly, I had regretted visiting the resting places of the so called 'mummies' for all these years. As I had grown older I could not help but feel I violated a sacred resting place. I had no choice when I was eight - just went with the adults. Over the years I had misgivings about the affair. I wondered how I could put things right again.

I decided another visit was required but this time I wanted to put things right. Instead of being scared I prayed for the souls resting in the crypt and in my prayers asked their forgiveness for violating their resting places many years ago.

Sarah and Gary did not enjoy they experience. The advertisement and tourist information would have you believe you were visiting mummies akin to the ancient Egyptian pyramids. Not so. When you enter the vaults you are actually looking at coffins and remains of ordinary people. Imagine if you had thousands of people gawking at your loved ones day after day year after year. Is it not the whole purpose in burying our dead so they can rest in peace!

What made the whole affair most unwholesome was the Tour Guide. He did his best (but failed miserably) at being theatrical about the experience with no regard to the sacred privacy that should be afforded in death. He commented on the gruesome deaths that some had met. He also relished on one particular deceased whom nobody liked - not even his own family!

I know ultimately it will depend on where you are at, theologically speaking. Some will feel they are merely looking at relics or even Irish history. But the truth is you are looking at the remains of dead people in a kind of circus side show. Surely you would not approve of this if it were your remains that people were being charged £4.00 to look at.

For the faithful amongst you. Let them rest in peace. Avoid this ill conceived Dublin side show. The Church does not need the money. Outside of this unsavoury way of making money from you the church functions daily as any church reliant on its congregation to fund it. In faith rely on God to keep his houses open.

For the people who are of different faiths or even none at all. Search your minds and asked yourself is it right to put the remains of those you love, or those you do not even know on public display for monetary rewards.

Do yourself a favour and the deceased. Avoid this unsavoury Dublin attraction. I fear you will regret it. .

Summary: By all means visit the church but avoid the vaults