Fodor's Expert Review Down Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, or Down Cathedral as it's commonly known, is one of the disputed burial places of St. Patrick. In the churchyard, a somber flat stone slab inscribed "Patric" is supposedly the saint's tomb. It might be here, at Saul, or, some scholars argue, more likely at Armagh. The stone was quarried in 1990 at Slieve-na-Largie near Castlewellan and took 12 men 14 days to cut from the quarry. The church, which lay ruined from 1538 to 1790 (it reopened in 1818), preserves parts of some of the earlier churches and monasteries that have stood on this site, the oldest of which dates to the 6th century. Even by then, the cathedral site had long been an important fortified settlement: Down takes its name from the Celtic word dun, or fort. Information panels tell the history of the building through a timeline, showing the connection with St. Patrick, and give details on the war memorials. In the summer of 2018 a replica of St. Patrick's Cross was installed in the... READ MORE
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, or Down Cathedral as it's commonly known, is one of the disputed burial places of St. Patrick. In the churchyard, a somber flat stone slab inscribed "Patric" is supposedly the saint's tomb. It might be here, at Saul, or, some scholars argue, more likely at Armagh. The stone was quarried in 1990 at Slieve-na-Largie near Castlewellan and took 12 men 14 days to cut from the quarry. The church, which lay ruined from 1538 to 1790 (it reopened in 1818), preserves parts of some of the earlier churches and monasteries that have stood on this site, the oldest of which dates to the 6th century. Even by then, the cathedral site had long been an important fortified settlement: Down takes its name from the Celtic word dun, or fort. Information panels tell the history of the building through a timeline, showing the connection with St. Patrick, and give details on the war memorials. In the summer of 2018 a replica of St. Patrick's Cross was installed in the grounds of the cathedral, just yards from where he is said to be buried. The reproduction, sculpted from Mourne granite, is on the Hill of Down where the original cross once stood. There's also a shop selling souvenirs. Entry is free but if you would like a guided 30-minute tour (which must be booked in advance) it costs £2.
READ LESS
