Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin , and District Council Visit The Home of 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 visitor attractions, superb hospitality offerings and countryside to the historic Inch Abbey. some of ’s most beautiful scenery. For more information: • St Patrick’s Day Located just 40 minutes from Don’t forget to pay your respects at the • May Bank Holidays and 2 hours north of , 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 , 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 area, visit the Grove where John VisitDownpatrick Wesley who founded , 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 , Downpatrick, beside the National Grave of the Patron daily prayer and because of this unique and . 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 , 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. It has long been a hub of Fáilte – Bienvenue – Bienvenidos – Välkommen! local life and attracts visitors from far and wide for St Patrick’s Golf Club, Downpatrick In the Clubhouse we have a fully great sport, entertainment, and fun. (formerly Downpatrick Golf Club) had stocked Pro-shop and to help you its official beginning in 1929 and is well unwind after your round, we have an We host 10 fixtures each year, with our seats 400 and private boxes can also be known for extending a warm welcome excellent restaurant and bar with feature being the National in booked for groups of 10 people or more, to its visitors who come from near and numerous beverages - including ‘the March. We race over jumps and also allowing a special, bespoke experience. far. black stuff’ - for you to enjoy. host evening racing in the warmer Beyond this, a wide range of public bars months. The racecourse is set in the and function rooms can cater for any This parkland course measures 6,120 Check out the links below to see what idyllic countryside of County Down and event or function you may be thinking yards, and with tight tree lined the Club and County Down has to offer. makes for a brilliant day out whether of holding. fairways, fast and true greens and We look forward to offering you a you are a racing fan or new to the sport. well-placed bunkers, provides a serious warm welcome, and we promise you Our top-class facilities and warm As one of only two racecourses in test of shot making. Holes of note are won’t be disappointed! welcome are renowned across Ireland , we are proud to host the difficult first, the par four seventh For more information: and have won us prestigious awards in the great sport of horse racing and at with views from the Isle of Man to the hospitality and tourism sectors. the same time contribute to the social Slemish Mountain in and the St Patrick’s Golf Club and cultural life of Downpatrick and the par three eleventh, one of the most Downpatrick Just one mile from the historic town of surrounding area. Feel free to contact challenging par threes in Northern 43 Saul Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6PA W: Downpatrick, a race meeting at our friendly staff should you have any Ireland. www.stpatricksgolfclub.com T: Downpatrick Racecourse is the perfect questions or enquiries. We will hope to 028 4461 5947 way to experience local life and enjoy an see you at the track soon! exciting sport at which the Irish are undoubtedly the best in the world. For more information: W: www.downpatrickracecourse.co.uk Throughout the season we host various T: 028 44 612054 themed racedays, including a Family Day in July and Ladies Day in August. A two-day Festival is our June highlight.

Downpatrick Racecourse’s modern facilities can be enjoyed by everyone from large groups to small parties and individuals. Our superb hospitality suite Saul and Wesley Memorial Slieve Patrick in the Grove Saul Church was built in 1932 to celebrate the 1500th John Wesley (1703-1791) was the founder of the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s arrival here in 432AD. branch of the Christian church known as Methodism.

The original church was a timber barn or The Methodist Church now ‘sabhall’ given to Patrick by the local ruler numbers hundreds of millions of Dichu, and which gave its name to the people throughout the world. His place where Patrick lived as a missionary aim was to change society by and died in 461 or 493. Here you can see bringing warmth and personal in the ancient graveyard a tiny building conviction to the practice of constructed in the late 16th century in Christianity. During his long life he the ruins of a medieval abbey, which was travelled ceaselessly on horseback to known as Saint Patrick’s house! proclaim the love of God for all people. He visited Ireland on 22 Overlooking Saul is the huge statue of occasions and came to Downpatrick Saint Patrick, carved from Mourne four times, in 1778, 1785, 1787, and granite, and erected on the hill known as 1789, drawing large crowds to hear Slieve Patrick in 1938. Around the statue him preaching at the Grove. are bronze reliefs showing Patrick lighting his fire at Tara, being met by The Wesley Memorial is in the form Dichu at Saul, and on his deathbed being of a Mourne granite boulder, given the last rites by Saint Tassach, from marking the spot where John nearby Raholp. From the top of the hill Wesley preached. In his Journal for there are amazing views of the Mourne 13 June 1778, he wrote: ‘I took my Mountains, , Strangford stand in the middle of the Grove, the Lough, and even Scotland and the Isle of people standing before me on the Man on a clear day! Near Slieve Patrick is gradually rising ground, which the Catholic Church of Saul, where part formed a beautiful theatre.’ He of an ancient altar associated with Saint based one of his Downpatrick Patrick can be seen. sermons on the text ‘Acquaint thyself now with Him, and be at peace’. Various inscriptions relating to Wesley may be seen inserted in the ground around the boulder. Contact Details

12. Mill Cottages Self Catering Downpatrick 113 & 115 Ardglass Road BT30 7DX Accommodation T: 028 4461 2767 13. The Burren Self Catering 1. Denvir’s Coaching Inn 66 Clanmaghery Road BT30 8SU Licenced Guest House T: 079 2176 0371 Authentic 14-16 English Street BT30 6AB T: 028 4461 2012 14. Dunnanelly Country House B&B Food trail of 2. The Mill at 26 Rocks Chapel Road BT30 9BA Licenced Guest House T: 077 1277 9085 Drumcullen Road BT30 8HZ T: County Down 028 4461 3654 15. Nutgrove House B&B 19 Nutgrove Road BT30 8QN 3. The Granary Guest T: 028 44 81 1566/079 7745 4497 We travel off the beaten track to meet local Accommodation 3 Drumcullen Road BT30 8HZ 16. Sally Gardens Cottage Self Producers – hear their story and sample award T: 028 4461 3654 Catering winning food and drink. 71a Vianstown Road BT30 8AB 4. Ballymote House B&B T: 077 1141 3882 84 Road BT30 8BJ Interested in St Patrick? T: Meet the local oyster farmer and visit 028 4461 5500 17. The Cottage School House Self his beds where you can pick your own We work closely with local guide, Duane Catering oysters and afterwards enjoy a feast in Fitzsimons and we can incorporate the 5. Dunleath House B&B 12 Bishopscourt Road BT30 7NU the Oyster Shac. This is a truly history of Saint Patrick into the day. 33 St Patrick’s Drive BT30 6NE T: 079 2210 0023 authentic experience! T: 028 4461 3221 Visit the site of the first church founded You will meet other local producers by Saint Patrick in Ireland at Saul and his 6. Gate Lodge at Oakley B&B Taxis and and taste amazing local food from resting place at Down Cathedral. 6 Glen Road Ballydargan BT30 8AY T: soda bread to craft gin, from raw milk 028 4485 1351/075 1688 2501 Transport cheese to award winning chocolate. Lunch is included in the tour. Bring a 7. Inch School B&B 1. Translink Depot healthy appetite! 78 Belfast Road BT30 9AY Market Street BT30 6LZ T: 078 8402 7666 T: 028 4461 2384 Duration: For more information: T: 8. Number Nine B&B 2. Translink Call Centre Full and half day options are available +44 (0) 7711 484 850 9 Knockchree Road BT30 6RP T: 028 9066 6630 Cost: W: www.nifoodtours.com T: E: 028 4461 3907 £70 per person [email protected] 3. Circular Taxis 9. Paddy’s Sleepy Orchard B&B T: 028 4461 5116 3 Saul Brae T: 028 4461 5750 4. Downpatrick Taxis T: 028 4461 4515/028 4461 2958 10. Tyrella House B&B 90 Clanmaghery Road BT30 8SU 5. Mi Cabs T: 028 4485 1422 T: 077 4785 5533

11. Ballydugan Cottages 6. Mouse Cabs Self Catering T: 079 7994 6658 7-11 Lake Road BT30 8HY T: 028 44839519 / 07792224954 Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin Newry, Mourne and How to find us

Downpatrick is ideally located between Dublin and Belfast and a must-see visitor destination. The town is 2 hours north of Dublin and 40 minutes south of Belfast between the Mountains of Mourne and scenic .

Come off the A1/M1 at Newry North/Camlough Exit (2nd turn off after the Border) – and follow the A25 along St Patrick’s Trail.

Downpatrick Visitor Information Centre The Saint Patrick Centre, 53a Lower Market Street, Londonderry Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ Tel 028 4461 2233 BELFAST Downpatrick Newry

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