Saint Patrick Visitor Centre
Encyclopedia
The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre is a modern exhibition complex located in Downpatrick
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
. It is a permanent interpretative exhibition centre featuring interactive displays on the life and story of Saint Patrick
, the patron saint
of Ireland
. It provides the only permanent exhibition centre in the world devoted to Saint Patrick.
It is situated in the town centre, below Down Cathedral
and the site of Saint Patrick's grave and is open all year round. It was established using Millennium Project funding from the National Lottery
, cost £6.3m and opened in 2001
. In the exhibition, entitled Ego Patricius, Saint Patrick's own words are used to illuminate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and its development through his mission. It also reveals the artwork and metalwork which were features of the Early Christian period, as well as the major impact of Irish missionaries in this period in Europe
. The exhibition uses a multi-media approach and state-of-the art technology to focus on the historical Saint Patrick and not on the legends, as well as a film shown in the purpose-built cinema. The design involves bold glass walls, life-size figurines, videos and voice recordings.
Apart from the permanent exhibition, the Centre also features a tourist information centre, craft shop, cafe and art gallery. The Centre also has an Education Initiative reaching out to local schools.
Currently in planning (in 2008
) are Ulster Irish
and Ulster Scots workshops and the Centre has the support of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
and the Ulster-Scots Agency
in these studies of local traditions. Support for the Centre has been growing from parents, schools, academics, artists, politicians and people in industry and commerce thanks to the people from a variety of academic disciplines who are presently planning its future. A range of scholars and political leaders from Europe
and the United States
are committed to supporting the continuing work of the Centre.
In summer 2008, under The Young Ambassadors’ Programme, the Saint Patrick Centre is hosting twelve American university students, coming to learn about the people of Northern Ireland and feedback their discoveries to their families and friends and fellow students back at home.
has periodically had to provide funding.
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Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is a permanent interpretative exhibition centre featuring interactive displays on the life and story of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It provides the only permanent exhibition centre in the world devoted to Saint Patrick.
It is situated in the town centre, below Down Cathedral
Down Cathedral
Down Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is a Church of Ireland cathedral located in the town of Downpatrick in Northern Ireland. It stands on Cathedral Hill overlooking the town.-History:...
and the site of Saint Patrick's grave and is open all year round. It was established using Millennium Project funding from the National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
, cost £6.3m and opened in 2001
2001 in Northern Ireland
-Events:*29 April - 2001 Census carried out. Northern Ireland population: 1,685,267.*15 June - Dispute arose between local loyalist and republican activists on the Crumlin Road peace line in North Belfast over the flying of loyalist paramilitary flags. Loyalists began to picket the nearby Holy...
. In the exhibition, entitled Ego Patricius, Saint Patrick's own words are used to illuminate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and its development through his mission. It also reveals the artwork and metalwork which were features of the Early Christian period, as well as the major impact of Irish missionaries in this period in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The exhibition uses a multi-media approach and state-of-the art technology to focus on the historical Saint Patrick and not on the legends, as well as a film shown in the purpose-built cinema. The design involves bold glass walls, life-size figurines, videos and voice recordings.
Apart from the permanent exhibition, the Centre also features a tourist information centre, craft shop, cafe and art gallery. The Centre also has an Education Initiative reaching out to local schools.
Currently in planning (in 2008
2008 in Northern Ireland
-Events:* 4 January - An unforecasted blizzard creates havoc across eastern Northern Ireland, with falls of 8 inches in one hour.* 22 January - Peter Robinson, Minister of Finance, releases the first final budget and programme for government, agreed by the Stormont executive.* 23 January - The...
) are Ulster Irish
Ulster Irish
Ulster Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the Province of Ulster. The largest Gaeltacht region today is in County Donegal, so that the term Donegal Irish is often used synonymously. Nevertheless, records of the language as it was spoken in other counties do exist, and help provide...
and Ulster Scots workshops and the Centre has the support of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in 1836...
and the Ulster-Scots Agency
Ulster-Scots Agency
The Ulster-Scots Agency is a cross-border body in Ireland which seeks "promote the study, conservation and development of Ulster-Scots as a living language; to encourage and develop the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster-Scots...
in these studies of local traditions. Support for the Centre has been growing from parents, schools, academics, artists, politicians and people in industry and commerce thanks to the people from a variety of academic disciplines who are presently planning its future. A range of scholars and political leaders from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are committed to supporting the continuing work of the Centre.
In summer 2008, under The Young Ambassadors’ Programme, the Saint Patrick Centre is hosting twelve American university students, coming to learn about the people of Northern Ireland and feedback their discoveries to their families and friends and fellow students back at home.
The building
The building was designed by architects Consarc and features a curved, suspended glass façade in a striking 10m high frameless glass entrance. This façade ensures maximum transparency of the interior to the people of Downpatrick and to visitors. The building is set partly into the ground to reduce its impact on the listed buildings behind, including the Cathedral, and uses the glass façade to counteract any tendency for the building to be seen as a bunker. As a result the building is welcoming, open and flooded with light.Awards
The Centre was highly commended in the Information and Communication Category in the 2004 Northern Ireland Tourism Awards.Funding Issues
In the first year of opening (2001 to 2002) the centre attracted more than 80,000 people, but even then it faced closure due to lack of funding. Down District CouncilDown District Council
Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. The Council is headquartered in Downpatrick. Other towns in the Council area are Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Clough, Crossgar, Dundrum, Killough, Killyleagh, Newcastle, Saintfield, Seaforde and Strangford...
has periodically had to provide funding.
External links
- Saint Patrick Centre
- Saint Patrick's Country
- Virtual tour of Saint Patrick Visitor Centre - Virtual Visit Northern Ireland
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