The Saint Patrick Centre
The Story Of Ireland Starts Here
The Saint Patrick Centre is one of Northern Ireland's leading attractions and a must see destination on the way from Dublin to Belfast. We are a registered charity as well as an important educational resource about the life of Ireland's most famous export - Saint Patrick.
No trip to Ireland is complete without a visit to the National Grave of Saint Patrick. Discover his incredible story at the Saint Patrick Centre in the medieval town of Downpatrick just 35 minutes south of Belfast.
Please take a look around our website and feel free to get in touch with us to arrange your visit.
The Story Of Ireland Starts Here
The Saint Patrick Centre is the only permanent exhibition in the world about Ireland's Patron Saint.
The story of Ireland starts here in the words of Saint Patrick himself - explore Patrick's life and legacy in our award winning interactive galleries and IMAX experience. Discover our Art Gallery, Craft shop and Garden Cafe with its views to the Medieval Cathedral of Down where the National Grave of Saint Patrick is located.
Journey to the fabulous local sites associated with Patrick to discover Inch Abbey where the legends of the snakes was written and the first church in Ireland at Saul were Patrick died on March 17th.
WALK SAINT PATRICK'S WAY
Be ready for a new experience after Lockdown and bring family and friends on St Patrick’s Way in 2021 in Downpatrick.
This unique experience – a guided pilgrim walk, bus tour or canoe trip– in the beauty of St Patrick’s Country, Downpatrick and Newcastle – can be given as a gift for the forthcoming tourist season (April onwards). Walking Tours start again on 28th April.
Just find a tour you like here, e-mail us on info@saintpatrickcentre.com and we will help you book it.
Check it out –WALK WITH US VIRTUALLY
SAINT PATRICK PODCAST
20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
Our new Podcast Series to Celebrate our 20th Anniversary with Elaine Kelly and Martina Purdy launches on Monday March 15th with an exclusive interview with TV Legend Eamonn Holmes. The 40minute podcast will be aired on Monday March 15that the start of a festive week for Saint Patrick, along with another podcast on 17th March featuring cellist Patrick Dexter who has spent lockdown providing beautiful music from his garden in the west of Ireland. Find Out More Here.
Listen Here – Podcast 1 Eamonn Holmes
Listen Here – Podcast 2 Patrick Dexter
SPIRIT OF SAINT PATRICK INTERNATIONAL YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION
20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
The Saint Patrick Centre launched an international writing competition to celebrate its 20th Anniversary and invited young aspiring writers to write about human trafficking and slavery worldwide.
OUR 2021 WINNER – Congratulations to 16 year old Maeve Cunningham from Ballycastle . Read her Essay HERE.
SAINT PATRICK’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY KIDS’ ART COMPETITION
A HUGE thank you to all of the children and schools who took part in our Art Competition to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and to mark our Twentieth Anniversary serving the community at home and abroad.
With public celebrations on hold due to Covid-19 this Saint Patrick’s Day, we asked children to recreate the Spirit of Patrick through art and we are please to announce the winners.
WINNERS –
P1-P2 Competition Winner Eva Ward P1 Forthill Integrated Primary School, Lisburn. Eva wins an Nintendo Switch.
P3 – P5 Winner Amelia Mason P5 Portaferry Integrated Primary School. Amelia wins a Nintendo Switch.
P6-P7 Competition Sarah Napier P6 Downpatrick Primary School. Sarah Wins an iPad Mini.
What our Visitors Say -
Opening Hours
The Saint Patrick Centre is closed at present under Government Restrictions but we are planning amazing new adventures for when its safe to open again in 2021.