Visit Downpatrick the Home of Saint Patrick Visit the Home of All Aboard for Saint Patrick the Magic of Steam!
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Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Visit Downpatrick The Home of Saint Patrick Visit the Home of All aboard for Saint Patrick the Magic of Steam! Downpatrick Experience train travel the way it used to be, on The ancient medieval town of Downpatrick offers Ireland’s only full size heritage railway, running from visitors the unique history of Saint Patrick, a wealth of Downpatrick’s town centre through the drumlin visitor attractions, superb hospitality offerings and countryside to the historic Inch Abbey. some of County Down’s most beautiful scenery. For more information: • St Patrick’s Day Located just 40 minutes from Belfast Don’t forget to pay your respects at the • May Bank Holidays and 2 hours north of Dublin, National Grave of Ireland’s Patron Saint • Easter Eggspress Downpatrick is renowned as a must- before visiting The Saint Patrick Centre • Summer weekends see destination for any trip to Ireland. to discover his story, and seeing the • Halloween Spooktacular From fabulous stone circles to our 10th-century Downpatrick High Cross • Santa’s Lapland Express medieval Down Cathedral, award- in stunning surroundings in Down • New Year diesel day winning Museum or the most famous County Museum on the Mall. Whilst in Irish export of all – Saint Patrick – the Saint Patrick’s Country also visit the first You can also explore our museum, town provides an exciting range of church in Ireland at Saul, founded by carriage collection, stations, signal activities and places to relax and stay. Patrick in 432AD and where he died on cabin and model railway. the 17th March. Then drop in to visit For more information: Why not ride on the only Irish Standard Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church W: Gauge steam railway in Ireland, visit on St Patrick’s Avenue to see the www.downrail.co.uk one of the oldest horseracing events on wonderful mosaics which depict the @downrail the island at Downpatrick Racecourse only shrine to Saint Patrick in Ireland. @downrail or go on a unique food tour sampling all of the famous cuisine which makes The story of Ireland starts here! this part of Ireland so special? Stay over in Denvir’s Coaching Inn, which has For more information: been in business since 1642, taste Downpatrick Visitor Information locally made drinks, take an Centre archaeological tour of the surrounding T: +44 (0) 28 4461 2233 Lecale area, visit the Grove where John VisitDownpatrick Wesley who founded Methodism, preached in the late 18th century, and play on the only Saint Patrick’s Golf Club in Ireland at great visitor rates. Explore the Discover ancient paths Down Cathedral Unlock the story of Saint Welcome to the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Patrick walking the scenic where the mortal remains of Saint Patrick lie buried. Lecale Way As well as being a major visitor attraction it is a place of pilgrimage and prayer for all people. Offering fascinating clifftop and hill walks local man Duane Fitzsimons opens the folklore and stories of Down Cathedral was built in the 12th to a small congregation who worship the area. Get a true flavour of the Century and is the medieval Cathedral here Sunday by Sunday. area with a lunch after. If you fancy church of the Anglican Diocese of a shorter walk, tours are available Down. It stands on Cathedral Hill The Cathedral is open every day for in Ardglass, Downpatrick, beside the National Grave of the Patron daily prayer and because of this unique Strangford and Portaferry. Saint of Ireland and is the episcopal situation and historic association with seat (Cathedra) for the Church of Saint Patrick, it serves as a focal point Tours run throughout the year and Ireland Bishop of the Diocese of Down. for Christians of all denominations. can also be arranged by request. Tours are available. The Cathedral is a stunning piece of For more information: medieval architecture, restored in the Admission: T: +44 (0) 7835441933 Georgian era, and has fabulous £3 suggested voluntary contribution W: www.lecalepeninsula.com German stained glass as well as one of Opening hours: E: [email protected] the most famous organs in Ireland. It Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 4pm hosts major festivals and services for Sunday 1pm – 4pm the Diocese, the highlight being the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations on For more information: 17 March. The Cathedral is also home T: 028 4461 4922 Investigate the Sensational Saint Patrick Centre Down County Museum The Saint Patrick Centre is the only permanent A visit to Down County Museum brings 9,000 years of exhibition in the world which tells the story of history to life for visitors of all ages. The Museum is Ireland’s patron saint. located in the historic buildings of the late 18th century County Gaol of Down. An IMAX cinema, bold graphics, Opening hours: sculpture, combined with video Monday-Saturday Our permanent exhibition, ‘Down and audio techniques allow visitors 9am – 5pm to explore Patrick’s life and the Through Time’, tells the story of the Sunday during July and August County from the arrival of the first major impact of Irish missionaries 1pm – 5pm people 9,000 years ago to the in Dark Age Europe – a legacy celebration of the new millennium in which remains to this day. 2000. Price List Facilities at the Centre include: Adults £5.75 A new extension houses the 10th- • Interpretative Exhibition Children £3.50 century Downpatrick High Cross, a • Art Gallery farming and maritime gallery, and the Concession £4.50 • Restaurant story of the gaol and its prisoners, • Terraced Gardens Family (2 adults and 2 children) £14.00 many of whom were transported to • Craft and Gift Shop Auditorium only £3.50 Australia. • Visitor Information Centre Opening hours: • Conference Facilities For more information: • 180O Audio Visual Flight Around Monday – Saturday T: 028 4401 9000 10am – 4.30pm Ireland W: www.saintpatrickcentre.com Sunday 1.30pm – 5pm For more information: T: 028 4461 5218 W: www.downcountymuseum.com downcountymuseum Experience Heritage Gallery Down Arts Centre Downpatrick Library Located in the heart of Downpatrick, Down Arts Holdings include Ordnance Survey Parish memoirs Centre is the operational base for the arts in compiled in the 1830s and a selection of specialised Downpatrick and the surrounding area. and antiquarian books for family history research. Part of Newry, Mourne and Down These include street directories, District Council, Down Arts Centre Griffith’s Valuation, Gravestone produces a busy programme of inscriptions, Ireland’s Memorial Records events all year round, including and Grand Jury Records of the County exhibitions, live theatre and music administration prior to 1898. events with a wide range of classes and workshops for all ages. Down The Gallery also holds a selection of Arts Centre programmes and County Down journals, maps, delivers the annual Newcastle newspapers, photographs and Summer Season entertainment postcards, and online resources from programme. www.librariesni.org.uk, including: Documenting Ireland: Parliament Opening hours: People and Migration (DIPPAM ) - Monday - Saturday 10am - 4:30pm online virtual archives of documents and sources relating to the history of For more information: Ireland and its migration experience T: 028 4461 0747 from the 18th-late 20th centuries. W: www.downartscentre.com E: [email protected] Visits to the Heritage Gallery are Opening hours: welcomed from groups, societies and Monday and Wednesday - Friday schools. Please contact us to make 9.30am - 5pm arrangements for a tour, talk or family Tuesday 12pm - 8pm history workshop. Events and Saturday 9.30am - 4.30pm exhibitions take place in the Gallery throughout the year. Details of For more information: forthcoming events may be found on Downpatrick Library, the Downpatrick Library and Local Market Street, Downpatrick BT30 6LZ Studies Downpatrick pages on T: 028 4433 3980 /028 4461 2895 www.librariesni.org.uk. E: [email protected] www.librariesni.org.uk Whitewater Denvir’s Brewery of Downpatrick Tours and Tap House Dining • Accommodation • Functions Our adventures started flowing on the banks of the Whitewater in 1996 – upriver in the Mountains of The oldest coaching inn in Ireland to For more information: Mourne, on our 5th generation family farm. We continually operate as such, Denvir’s Denvir’s of Downpatrick remains very much part of the local 14-16 English Street, Downpatrick, developed our first brew in my great grandfather’s shed. community. BT30 6AB T: 028 4461 2012 Over the years we experimented and It is well worth a visit to check out W: www.denvirs.com produced many different beers. Some of the original features such as the E: [email protected] them were first of their kind in Ireland, large open fireplaces, but also to some were last of their kind, and some hear some of the history which staff still remain with us to this day. will be only too willing to relate to you. A great place to relax, dine, and With hard work and perseverance our socialise! beer, born in a barn by the river, was really flowing – until eventually we reached a point where we needed a ‘bigger shed’! Join us for a look around our brewery, see how we make some of our award- winning brews, then head back to the new tap house where you can try some ales and hear some tales! Tours cost £12 per person plus booking fee and lasts for 60 minutes (booking essential). For more information: Whitewater Brewing Company Lakeside Brae, Clarkhill Road Castlewellan, Co Down T: 028 4377 8900 E: [email protected] Downpatrickp St Patrick’s Racecourse Golf Club Downpatrick Dating back to 1685, Downpatrick Racecourse is the WELCOME oldest racecourse in Ireland.