Opening Ceremony
Friday, 9 March 2018 – 2:15pm (Free)
Down County Museum & Down Cathedral, Downpatrick
The opening event of the Home of Saint Patrick Festival will include the unveiling of a Mourne granite replica of the 8th–century St Patrick’s Cross outside Down Cathedral, Downpatrick.
Meet in the Cathedral View Tea Room, Down County Museum, at 2.15pm for light refreshments and then make your way up the Mall to Down Cathedral where the cross will be unveiled at 3pm by Chair of Council, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew.
The 4.5m high replica of St Patrick’s Cross has been made by S McConnell and Sons of Kilkeel using the same G2 Mourne granite as the original cross, which stood at St Patrick’s Grave in the 19th century and now lies inside the entrance of Down Cathedral in three giant fragments. The Cross has been modelled using surviving drawings from the 1840s and by scanning the surfaces of the stones after conservation. The Cross was probably erected on Cathedral Hill in the 8th century when the monastery was first established, and was one of the oldest and largest high crosses in Ireland. The replica of St Patrick’s Cross will be a beacon for modern–day pilgrims and visitors to Downpatrick, just as it was during the heyday of pilgrimage to the grave of St Patrick in Early Christian times.
Newry, Mourne and Down Youth Trad Orchestra
Friday, 9 March 2018 – 7:30pm (Free)
Down Cathedral, Downpatrick
Come and join us for an evening of traditional music & dance performed by over 45 traditional Irish musicians, singers and dancers between the ages of 12 and 23 all of whom hail from across the district, under the musical direction of renowned musician Ursula Byrne.
With the wealth of talent within the Orchestra, anyone who has the pleasure of experiencing their performance will struggle not to be left wanting to hear more from this group of impressive young musicians.
Space is limited so come early to avoid disappointment.
Saints & Scholars Concert
Thursday, 15 March 2018 – 8pm (£15)
Down Cathedral, Downpatrick
Join All Lives Are Precious for a one off specially produced production to celebrate the bicentenary of Down Cathedral, Downpatrick the final resting place of our patron saint, Saint Patrick.
The event has been put together by Peter Corrys production company and promises to be a spectacular celebration of heritage, culture and St Patrick through music, song, poetry and Dance. It will encapsulate all that is good about the many different styles of Irish music from traditional ballads to contemporary songs from right across the island of and beyond. Hosted by Gerry Kelly the event will feature many leading vocal artists and musicians from right across Ireland.
Tickets are £15 available from the Saint Patrick Centre, Down Cathedral.