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AMBLING DOWN AUNGIER Street isn’t typically considered a romantic activity. Did you know, however, that the impressively grand Whitefriar Church contains the heart of the city? St Valentine’s, to be precise.
The patron saint of love (and beekeeping) became a legendary martyred figure following his beheading in AD 270.
In Ancient Rome, there was a custom of randomly pairing couples for matrimony. This was banned by Emperor Claudius, who wanted men to join his growing army instead.
St Valentine, however, continued to wed couples – which led to his execution.
Some fifteen hundred years later, in 1835, highly-esteemed Irish Carmelite priest, Fr John Spratt was invited to Rome to preach at the Gesu.
His sermons were lauded by the city’s elite and he was gifted with some unconventional tokens by Pope Gregory XVI – including the heart of St. Valentine.
He returned to Whitefriar Church, heart in tow. But it was lost in the grounds of the church until renovations took place during the 1950s.
According to The Wild Geese, an online collective championing Irish heritage, it was customary for religious institutions to have similar offerings. By presenting the body parts of a saint on the altar, the congregation were reminded that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
Today, the heart resides in a golden box in a shrine dedicated to St Valentine. Overlooking it, a statue of the Saint holding a crocus and clothed in red vestments, the colour depicts blood shed for his Christian faith. It’s often adorned with fresh flowers and lit candles, fulfilling the romantic connotations associated with Valentine’s Day.
It attracts a range of visitors – from young couples praying to St Valentine for eternal love to elders asking for a protective eye on family members.
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move the dogs, blame is with the ‘owner’
@Cornelius Murphy: Here’s a report from a few months ago:
The neighbour who was attacked luckily was not injured:
“He said it lasted 20 – 30 seconds but he did not suffer physical injuries. However, he described it as a very traumatic event, adding that it was lucky no children were in the vicinity.”
Mr Hamdi wasn’t at home when his dogs escape his house:
“The court also heard, that went Mr Hamdi was away, they attended the scene and found the front door to his house open.”
Gardai arrived after the attack:
“The court heard that after complaints, Gardai found the door to Hamdy’s home was open, and no one came out for 20 minutes.”
Somehow the door to his house was left opened, or was opened, while Mr Hamdi was away.
“However, he did not see what happened and told Gardai that the dogs must have opened the front door to get out. Later, he claimed there had been a break-in at his home, which caused the German Shepherds to escape.”
“Hamdy said he reported it to Gardai when he noticed damage to his door and objects missing from his house”
1. He left his door open when he left and his dogs escaped
2. Somehow his dog opened the door and his dogs escaped
2. His house was burgled and his dogs escaped.
There is a long running neighbour dispute over the dogs, they previously escaped after a storm blow down a fence.
@Cornelius Murphy: It’s the only sure deterrent to other dogs. Capital punishment works.
Strange choice of terminology: dogs aren’t executed, and they certainly aren’t put on death row. If this is meant to be humorous, it’s not in the best taste.
@Brendan O’Brien: I… agree… with… Brendan. See? We can all get along – we don’t have to agree on EVERYTHING. The terminology used in this article is indeed very strange, and immature, that’s at best – it’s deliberately provocative at worst. I’m almost surprised they didn’t call the Judge the ‘Governor’, or mention the Electric Chair. WEIRD.
Dogs are amazing creatures who thrive on human interaction. As usual people are blaming the wrong end of the lead.
Most amazing breed in the right hands, like all dogs. Had to put my beloved GSD down after 10 years last month. Adopted a 7 month old GSD last week. Very loyal and protective breeds. I blame their owner here! Probably never did any proper obedience training and probably couldn’t handle two large dogs either..
Just shoot them. It could be a child next time.
@John Mulligan: We don’t shoot dogs in this country. They are euthanised in a humane manner.
@Michael Burke: A bullet can be humane. It is quick and painless.
@Honey Badger: Fake account.
They were caught easily as Gardai had several leads to follow
Hardly suitable living surroundings for two large German Shepherds.Other residents with children will certainly be anxious. If they attack children an apology won’t cut it.
Why postpone the correct decisions once a dog attacks they will do so again
German Shepherds are not aggressive by nature. They are made that way by the owners. I write this as mine is laid next to me with his head in my lap. The judge is wrong. These dogs could be retrained and rehomed.
@Andrew Harrington: A dog is like children # there only as good as the People around them. End
Put them down ffs end of
‘sentenced to death’, ‘execution’, ‘death row’. A bit dramatic?
just deport them to South Korea they’ll find a nice home there
Comments open on a court case?!
A chilli pepper lorean sauce called gochujang goes well with their meat.
@Coc Caled: Sick
Is this for real ? Put these beasts down…imagine the victim was a little child….
Hate those dogs. Oh but they are clever.
Yeh clever that they need muzzles
@louise ryan: why do you hate them????
Its time for a one way trip to the glue factory.
@Paul: Your barking up the wrong tree
Dogs are being treated quite ruff-ly
So we’re even bestowing the partner partner onto dogs now. When will this i dio cy every end?
There’s no such thing as an alsation.
have your say