Christ Church Cathedral Crypt
Dublin's oldest building holds a crypt where a mummified cat and rat are trapped together in an organ pipe. The undercroft whispers with a thousand years of ghosts.
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin’s oldest building, contains a medieval crypt that has witnessed nearly a thousand years of history—and gathered spirits from across the centuries. The largest crypt in Britain or Ireland holds more than religious artifacts.
History
The cathedral was founded around 1030 by Sitric Silkenbeard, Norse King of Dublin. According to historical records:
- The original wooden church was replaced by stone in 1172
- The crypt dates from this medieval construction
- It served as a marketplace, tavern, and secular space
- The crypt has survived unchanged while the cathedral above was rebuilt
The Tom and Jerry
Perhaps the cathedral’s strangest artifact: a mummified cat and rat found trapped together inside an organ pipe. The animals apparently became stuck while the cat was chasing the rat, and both died. The dry air mummified them.
Locals call them “Tom and Jerry.” While not supernatural, their preserved remains represent the strange time capsule the crypt provides.
Haunted Activity
The crypt and cathedral report various phenomena:
The Crypt:
- Footsteps echo when no one is present
- Cold spots appear and move
- Whispering voices in Latin
- The sense of being watched from the shadows
- Objects move slightly between visits
The Nave:
- A female figure in white has been seen near the altar
- Organ music plays when no one is at the keyboard
- Candles extinguish and relight
- Figures in medieval dress appear and vanish
Strongbow’s Tomb:
- The tomb of Norman knight Strongbow may not contain his body
- Visitors report a presence near the effigy
- Some feel their hands pressed down when touching the tomb
Historical Ghosts
Given the cathedral’s history, numerous spirits could be present:
- Vikings who founded the original church
- Medieval monks and clergy
- Victims of plague and famine
- 19th-century homeless who sheltered in the crypt
- Soldiers from various conflicts
The weight of history is palpable in the cold stone chambers.
The Crypt Today
The crypt remains accessible to visitors:
- One of Dublin’s most popular tourist sites
- Regular tours explore the medieval undercroft
- The space hosts exhibitions
- The atmosphere shifts dramatically after dark
Staff members report that evening shifts in the crypt are unsettling—the sense of not being alone persists.