About
Join us in Downpatrick for a two hour walking tour of one of the oldest towns in Ireland and a place where the echoes of centuries past resonate on every corner.
Everyone is welcome on the tour. The walking pace will be slow to allow for any health challenges within the group and there will be several stops, with a chance to rest. Downpatrick is a town built on hills and there will be an uphill walk from Denvir's. Our Tour Guide is a professional who operates many tours for cruise ships and other groups in Northern Ireland - she is very experienced in supporting a wide range of people.
A glimpse into the history:
Named for St Patrick, its glory stems from this great saint, whose revered grave lies near the magnificent Cathedral, on the Hill of Down. The remains of two other national saints, St. Brigid and
St. Columcille lie in the same grave. This sacred site, steeped in legend and pilgrimage, is a testament to the enduring legacy of all these saints.
The imposing Mound of Down gives the County its name. The town was an important Celtic settlement, home of Cealtchair, one of the most powerful soldiers in the Red Branch Knights.
His successors, the Dál Fiatach would later rule from this place.
Downpatrick's story is one of resilience and adaptation, shaped by waves of arrivals—from the early Christians to the fierce Vikings and the noble Normans, followed later by the English and Scottish settlers. Each group left its mark, contributing to the town's unique cultural mosaic.
As we wander together along Downpatrick's English Street, we will encounter the charm of a Georgian district, with its fine Southwell School, Courthouse, and a very well-preserved Georgian Gaol, that stands now as an excellent museum. Find out about the "Man from God Knows Where," eulogised in poem, a rebel leader
who was hanged here in 1803.
Part of the story of Downpatrick is as a former port on a lost branch of Strangford Lough, once bustling with ships and commerce. It's hard to imagine now, but only the hills were visible as the waters of the Quoile came right into town. The port has always influenced the town's development, referenced in many ways including in The Custom's House. English Street will remind us how essential the river Quoile has been through the centuries.
Today, Downpatrick stands as a living testament to its past, a place where the glory and the story still linger, etched into the very fabric of the town.
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Ticket | £12.00 per ticket |
Please contact the organiser for any further information that's required.
