A symposium marking the 300th anniversary of the first publication of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels took place in the Deanery at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. Swift, who was ordained as a priest in 1695, served in parishes in County Antrim and County Meath before becoming Dean of St Patrick's in 1713.

Swift's will included a bequest of £12,000 toward the establishment of St Patrick's Hospital in Dublin, an institution founded to care for people with mental illness. A commemorative Evensong service was scheduled for the following Sunday.

On October 28, approximately 130 children performed a new musical work inspired by the words of Swift's friend Alexander Pope. The music was composed by Professor Seán Doherty, who is from Londonderry and now works at Dublin City University. Stuart Nicholson, Master of the Music at St Patrick's Cathedral, conceived the piece.

Swift spent time at Quilca in County Cavan, where he often stayed with his friend, the Reverend Dr Thomas Sheridan. A memorial stone near the site commemorates the connection between the two men.