Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church (Dublin South Inner City)

The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church (officially dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel) is one of the more important lesser known sights of Dublin - if only because the relics of Saint Valentine can be found here. But there is more to the church than the annual pilgrimage offered on February 14th, Saint Valentine's Day. Especially for the inner-city community it caters for, one of the less fortunate areas of Ireland's capital served by the Cistercian friars.

Walking towards the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church one cannot help but notice changes - coming straight from Temple Bar and passing the George Street Arcade visitors will notice the shops getting smaller and decidedly less modern. You are entering one of the less well-off areas of Dublin's Southside. Not a dangerous area, but not (yet) gentryfied or dolled up for the tourist trade.

Which is one of the reasons why the Carmelites are here - their inner-city mission offers spiritual as well as practical support for the diverse community. Since the 19th century.

The interior of the Carmelite church (opened in 1827) is in total contrast to its bleak and grey exterior - actually it is a riot of color in places. The shrine of Saint Valentine being a good example, with a brightly painted statue and golden metalwork. The relics of Valentine, now one of the Irish saints by adoption, were given to the Carmelites by the Pope to boost Irish Catholicism.

The historically most important piece to look out for is Our Lady of Dublin - a 15th century wooden statue of the Virgin, originally from St. Mary's Abbey. Maybe of German origin, but the attribution to Albrecht Dürer is very far-fetched.