It’s impossible to visit Downpatrick in Northern Ireland without stopping off at the Saint Patrick Centre, a museum entirely dedicated to the Patron Saint of the Irish and his historical impact on the country! The museum retraces the saint’s life through myths and legends, as well as historical facts. We discover its powerful deeds, its myths and mysteries, and the legacy that remains to this day… A beautiful, modern and interactive museum, essential for understanding Ireland’s relationship with religion!
The Saint Patrick Centre and its exhibition
Saint Patrick, for those who don’t already know him, is the person who helped convert Ireland to Christianity in the 5th century… A real tour de force when you think about it, Ireland being at the time predominantly pagan, and adept at Druidism. Since then, things have changed and the country has become predominantly Catholic… all thanks to Saint Patrick!
That’s why the Emerald Isle celebrates the event every March 17, Irish National Day!
And what could be more natural than to have a museum in Downtpatrick, the place where the man was buried, to give a better account of his work?
The Saint Patrick Centre boasts the world’s only permanent exhibition dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint. The program includes an interactive exhibition, with videos, life-size reconstructions and voice-overs recounting the life of Saint Patrick.
And the information is more than interesting! The museum combines ancient writings and scientific facts to give a close-up account of the saint’s life.
You’ll learn that he was born in Scotland before being captured by Irish pirates and enslaved on Ireland’s Slemish Mountain. Saint Patrick managed to escape in 409, after God told him in one of his dreams to go ashore and board a ship…
The young man then decided to become a priest and devote his life to theology. The Pope asked him to return to Ireland a few years later, to convert Ireland to Christianity! A mission he carried off with flying colors, meeting Irish lords and locals and explaining the concept of the Holy Trinity with the help of a shamrock!
The museum is fantastic, well put together and the exhibition ultra interesting. It’s all about having a good time: IMAX cinema sequences, sculptures, interactive panels and a warm dolby surround voiceover, where Saint Patrick seems to be telling you directly about his life, his ordeals and his feelings.
The icing on the cake: the museum brilliantly separates the myth from the history of Saint Patrick. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from historians and academics who have devoted their lives to the question of Saint Patrick and the historical facts involved.
The museum doesn’t proselytize, but takes a measured approach, distinguishing between the written word and scientific fact. A great way to discover a part of Irish history, and its cultural and societal impact right up to the present day.
The museum also has a gift store where you can buy books on the saint, Irish clothing and other souvenirs. At the end of your visit, don’t hesitate to round off your experience with a visit to Down Cathedral and Saint Patrick’s tomb.
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3.91/5 (11 votes)
