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County Down

PLACES

Castleward
Celtic Cross
Clough Castle
Delamont Country Park
Denvirs Hotel
Down Arts Centre
Down County Museum
Downpatrick Courthouse
Downpatrick Prisons
Down Railway Museum
Dundrum Castle
Inch Abbey
Lecale
Judges Lodgings
Mountains of Mourne
Saint Patrick's Centre
Saul Church
Slieve Patrick
Southwell Buildings
Strangford
The Strangford Stone
Quoile Countryside Centre
St Patrick's RC Church

Saint Patrick's Grave:
		INSCRIPTION

[Saint Patrick was born in Britain. At sixteen he was sold into slavery. He escaped to France, but one night in a dream he heard the voice of the Irish calling him back. How Patrick answered that call and brought Christianity to Ireland is one of the most splendid chapters of our history. 

According to tradition the remains of Saint Patrick with those of Saint Brigid and Saint Columba who was also known as Columcille, were reinterred on the site by John de Courcy in the 12th Century thus fulfilling the prophecy that the three saints would be busied in the same place.] 

The large granite boulder was placed in the graveyard of Down Cathedral in 1900 by F.G. Bigger of the Belfast Naturalist Field Club. On the stone is carved the name PATRIC and a cross. It is a memorial, not a tombstone. 

Photo - Pat DevlinThese pages are about Co Down, particularly Lecale and the surrounding area, including the Mourne Mountains. We have lived in Downpatrick for over 30 years. Downpatrick is an ancient town; the locality has been inhabited for at least 9000 years and is intimately associated with Ireland's Patron Saint, Patrick, who is reputed to be buried here. What you see here is that which is of interest to me. I will add items from time to time. For information about the picture hover your mouse over it.

There are images and information about some of the historic sites in the area, and short biographies of a few of the people who came from or lived here and who made a significant contribution to the development of the religious, industrial, commercial and social life of the locality and in the wider world.

To read what the the Lecale area was like in the 1830's read extracts from Lewis' Topographical Dictionary available here.

Also, you can read here James O'Laverty's history of Lecale, an extract from his extensive Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Conor.


PEOPLE

The First Settlers
Aodh Mac Aingil
John de Courcy
Archbishop William Crolly
Percy French
Michael McLaverty
Celtchair Mor Mac Uthechair
Sir James Martin
Saint Patrick
Thomas Russell-United Irishman
LINKS
Down County Museum
Down Cathedral
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Lecale Historical Society