Where to Find Saint Valentine - In Dublin, Ireland

Looking For Where to Find Saint Valentine - In Dublin, Ireland

The Carmelite church on Whitefriar Street, Dublin, lies off the beaten track, and has a dull exterior.

But inside the church lies a casket that lovers around the world hold dear.

The Shrine to St. Valentine, just to the right of the main entrance at Whitefriar church, has a beautiful statue of the saint, fashioned by local sculptor Irene Broe. But it is the casket beneath the statue, which is said to hold the remains of the saint himself, that attracts the visitors.

How the remains of Saint Valentine came to Dublin

In Decmember 1835, Irish Carmelite priest Father John Spratt, travelled to Rome as a guest of Cardinal Weld, Pope Gregory XVI's consul on British and Irish affairs.

Fr. Pratt had a reputation as being an excellent preacher and he was asked to speak at the Jesuit church, where he was heard by the Pope.

The Pope was so impressed that he decided to make a gift of the body of Saint Valentine, which was buried in a Roman cemetery, along with a relic of his blood.

The relics were dispatched to Dublin and, many months later, they arrived at Whitefriar street church, where they were received by the Archbishop of Dublin

The reliquary (the container containing the relics) was accompanied by an official letter from the Pope, which is still held by the Carmelites today.

It certified that the contents of the decorated inner casket -- which has never been opened -- contained the body of Saint Valentine, which had been removed from the Tiberius cemetery in Rome, along with a vessel that had been doused with Saint Valentine's blood.

The Shrine Today

Today, the Shrine of Saint Valentine is one of Dublin's hidden gems. Only on February 14th, when the casket is placed on the altar, does the church receive a lot of visitors.

Tips For Visitors

1. If you are planning to visit this small but beautiful church (with a deceptively dull exterior), be aware that mass may be taking place. Be respectful of churchgoers. If you do not plan on attending mass, wait until the mass is over before viewing the Shrine.

2. While the relics are placed front and centre of the church every February 14th, this is also the one day of the year when the Whitefriar Street church becomes a little crowded with tourists. Pick any other day and you'll have a more comfortable visit.