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Explore St Patrick

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The St Patrick Visitor Centre, Downpatrick, County Down.

The St Patrick Visitor Centre, Downpatrick, County Down.

Want to find out more about St Patrick? Here’s a good place to start. The St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick can give you pointers to the many ancient sites, crosses, etc., with which he is associated. You’ll also be close to Down Cathedral where you can see his tombstone; Saul, where he built the first Christian church in Ireland, and the ancient monastic site and ruin at Inch Abbey is just a short drive away.

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St Patrick: Hill of Tara

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Figure of St Patrick at Hill of Tara, County Meath, where he defied the orders of the High King.

Figure of St Patrick at Hill of Tara, County Meath, where he defied the orders of the High King.

St Patrick's Church at Hill of Tara which has now been de-commissioned and opened as a visitor centre.

St Patrick's Church at Hill of Tara which has now been de-commissioned and opened as a visitor centre.

According to tradition, the Hill of Tara in County Meath, was the Coronation place and ceremonial centre of the pre-Christian, High Kings of Ireland, with whom Patrick was often in conflict. 
 
Patrick is said to have lit a pascal fire on the nearby hill of Slane on the morning of Easter 433, in defiance of the order of the High King Laoire who had forbidden the act. Laoire’s druids are said to have warned Patrick that the fire must be extinguished or it would burn forever. Patrick defied the orders and then came to the Hill of Tara to argue with the King and his druids, challenging them to perform supernatural acts. 
 
Patrick plucked a shamrock from the grassy hillside of Tara, and used its three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity: the union of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one. Rather than punish Patrick and banish him, the King became convinced and converted, allowing Patrick to continue his missionary work and spread Christianity throughout Ireland.

St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Armagh

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One of the two St Patrick's Cathedrals in Armagh city.

One of the two St Patrick's Cathedrals in Armagh city.

Armagh has two Cathedrals, both bearing the name of St Patrick. The one above is the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the one which we’ll feature in tomorrow’s post is the Protestant, St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. They are located just a short distance from each other. Armagh is also the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All Ireland for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland.

 

 

 

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