About St Patrick

The home of St Patrick

Saint Patrick’s Confession

My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. His home was near there, and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time. At that time, I did know the true God.

Podcasts & Videos

According to the world’s reckoning I was a gentleman, the son of a Decurion. I have sold my patrimony without shame or regret, for the benefit of others.

Lectures to Read

The Saint Patrick Centre hosted Rathfriland man Professor Francis Campbell in its monthly Lecture Series on Friday 12th April. Professor Campbell was Policy Advisor and Private Secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2001- 2003 and British Ambassador to the Vatican from 2005 -2011.

St Patrick's Grave

Outside Down Cathedral on the highest part of Cathedral Hill lies the grave of Saint Patrick, the apostle of Ireland. By the early medieval period Patrick’s grave had become an important site for the developing church and an important monastery had grown around it.

Saul Church

Saul Church is built on the site of Saint Patrick’s earliest place of Christian worship in Ireland, founded by the Saint in 432 AD. Originally made of wood, the church has been rebuilt many times – most recently in 1932 to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of its foundation.

St Patrick Shrine

The only shrine to Saint Patrick in Ireland is located in Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Downpatrick.

The foundation stone to Saint Patrick’s was laid by Bishop Dorrian on the 17th March 1868 and the church was designed in a Gothic 14th Century French style.

Down Cathedral

Located on a hill surrounded by water and trees, the site of Down Cathedral was an important location for Celtic worship for thousands of years before Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.

St Patrick Statue

Designed in the Art Deco style like its contemporary Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, but carved from solid granite rather than soapstone, the Saul Memorial is the tallest statue of Saint Patrick in the world.

Other Landmarks

The surrounding area has many magnificent landmarks and tourist attractions that you can visit!

Historical Notes