Downpatrick
Saint Patrick is the town's whole story, told at the sites around his traditional burial place. Downpatrick is the county town of County Down.
Best sites to see in Downpatrick
Down Cathedral
The Church of Ireland cathedral on a hill above the town, on a site long associated with Saint Patrick, with a large granite slab in its graveyard marking the traditional burial place of Patrick.
The Saint Patrick Centre
A town-centre exhibition telling the story of Saint Patrick and early Christian Ireland, a useful introduction before visiting the cathedral and Saul.
Down County Museum
A museum housed in the town's former county gaol, covering the history of County Down and the story of the old prison itself.
Inch Abbey
The ruins of a Cistercian abbey on the River Quoile just outside the town, founded in the late 12th century, with views back to Down Cathedral.
Where to stand, and when
- Inch Abbey looking towards Down Cathedral: Afternoon light gives the classic view of the abbey ruins with the cathedral on its hill in the distance.
- The cathedral hill above English Street: Photograph in the morning for a clear view over the town's rooftops and the Quoile valley.
- Saint Patrick's traditional grave slab in the cathedral graveyard: Low morning or evening light picks out the carved lettering on the granite slab.
Downpatrick through history
Downpatrick's Irish name, Dun Padraig, means Patrick's fort, and the town is traditionally regarded as the burial place of Saint Patrick.
The Norman knight John de Courcy seized Downpatrick in 1177 as part of his invasion of Ulster, and Inch Abbey was founded under his patronage soon afterwards.
Rebels and government forces contested the town during the rebellion of 1798, and the old gaol, now the county museum, dates from that era.
Saint Patrick's Day draws visitors to Downpatrick and nearby Saul, where tradition holds that Patrick's first church in Ireland stood.
Practical tips
- Start at the Saint Patrick Centre, then walk up the hill to the cathedral, as the centre gives context for the sites.
- Inch Abbey is a short drive or a riverside walk from town, and its grounds are open and exposed, so dress for the weather.
- The town is especially busy around Saint Patrick's Day in March, so book accommodation and parking time accordingly.
What's on
No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar