St Michan's Church

My brother told me about it and I was not sure was to expect. The church was orginally founded in 1095 but the present church dates from 1685 and was renovated in 1825. Make sure when you are there to do the vaults tour. The vaults contain one of the most influential people of Dublin from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries like the Sheares brothers and the coffins of the Earl's of Leitrim. In the vaults are also other known families and people like Oliver Bond, who took part in the 1798 Rising, mathematician William R. Hamilton and Robert Emmet who got executed during the 1803 Rising.
Inside the church: The organ is one of the oldest in the country and still in use. It is believed that George F. Handel played it when composing The Messiah. A panel on the organ gallery, carved from a single block of wood, shows various musical instruments.
The constant dry atmosphere has caused the mumminification of the bodies and the preservation of the coffins. In one vault you can see the mummies of 4 people one along the rear wall they believe is a Crusader. His body has been cut in half, in order to fit in the coffin. One of his hands is lifted slightly in the air. Two women left and right in the front.(possibly nuns) and the 4th person a man inbetween the two women. They believe he was a thief because beside his feet one of his hands also got cut off. It is to believe that the feet were cut off to fit in the body into the coffin but no one knows for sure...
Well worth a visit and a very good tour guide!!