Page 287 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

NOR THERN IRELAND  285

z Mount Stewart
House
See pp286–7.

x Hillsborough
Road map D2. Co Down. * 4,000.
@ n The Square (028 9268 9717).
∑ discovernorthernireland.com
Dotted with craft shops and
restaurants, this Georgian town
lies less than 16 km (10 miles)
from Belfast. Hillsborough
Castle, with its wrought­iron Terraced houses in the town of Hillsborough
gates and coat of arms, is where
visiting dignitaries to Northern E Down County Museum The nearby hill of Slieve
English Street, The Mall. Tel 028 4461
Ireland normally stay. 5218. Open daily. Closed Christmas; Patrick is an important place
Across from the 18th­century Sat & Sun am. 7 - = 8 of pilgrimage and has a
Market House in the town ∑ downcountymuseum.com granite figure of the saint
square is Hillsborough Fort. at its summit.
An artillery fort dating from Environs Not far from the banks
1650, it was remodelled in the There are several sights linked of the River Quoile is the
18th century for feasts held by to St Patrick on the outskirts Cistercian Inch Abbey,
the descendants of Arthur Hill, of Downpatrick. Struell Wells, founded by John de Courcy
founder of the town. believed to be a former in about 1180. Its attractive
pagan place of worship that marshland setting is more
+ Hillsborough Castle the saint blessed, has a ruined memorable than its remains,
Tel 028 9268 9406. Open Apr–Sep: church and 17th­century but it’s worth a visit.
10:30am–5pm daily. 8 bathhouses. Further out and to
+ Hillsborough Fort the north at Saul, near where R Inch Abbey
Access from town square or car park St Patrick landed and began his 5 km (3 miles) NW of Downpatrick.
at Forest Park. Tel 028 9054 3030. Irish mission in 432, is a small Tel 028 9181 1491. Open daily.
Closed Mon. 8 by arrangement. memorial church. ∑ doeni.gov.uk/niea
∑ visitlisburn.com
The Life of St Patrick
c Downpatrick
Little hard information is known about
Road map E2. Co Down. * 19,000. St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland,
@ n 53a Market St (028 4461 2233). but he was probably not the first
Open Sep–Jun: Mon–Sat; Jul–Aug: missionary to visit the country – a
daily (Sun pm only). ( Sat. certain Palladius was sent by Pope
Celestine in 431. Most stories tell
Were it not for its strong links that Patrick was kidnapped from
with St Patrick, Downpatrick Britain by pirates and brought to
would attract few visitors. The Ireland to tend sheep. From here he
Anglican Down Cathedral, high escaped to France to study
on the Hill of Down, dates in its Christianity. In 432, he sailed back
present form from the early to Ireland and in Saul, County Down,
19th century – previous incar­ he quickly converted the local
nations have been razed. In the chieftain. He then travelled
churchyard is a well­worn 10th­ throughout the island
century cross and the reputed convincing many other
burial place of St Patrick, marked Celtic tribes of the
by a 20th­century granite slab truth of the new
religion. The fact
with the inscription “Patric”. that Ireland has
Down County Museum, which no snakes is
is housed in the 18th­century explained by
Old County Gaol, features a legend that
refurbished cells and exhibits St Patrick drove
relating to St Patrick, while close them all into 19th-century engraving showing St Patrick banishing
by is the Mound of Down, a the sea. all snakes from Ireland
large Norman motte and bailey.

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