| 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 |
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.
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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 |
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![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 Devlin](stpatgrave2.jpg)
These 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.