downpatrick cathedral

The place-name Downpatrick comprises two elements - dun, an early Irish fortified site (on which the present Cathedral was erected), and the name of Ireland's National Apostle. Some say St. Patrick was buried here, but there is no early tradition to substantiate the claim, and the inscribed stone allegedly marking the Saint's burial place just south of the Cathedral dates from as recently as 1900. Indeed, very little is known of the early history of the site until the 12th century, when a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity is recorded. In 1177, John de Courcy replaced its canons by Benedictines from St. Werburg's in Chester.

The cathedral, though heavily restored in 1789 - 1812, still retains its characteristic three-aisled form from the 13th century, its interesting decorated capitals suggesting a date in the second half of the century. But the Cathedral does preserve earlier crosses; there are fragments of two 9th/10th century crosses in the modern tower vestibule; two 12th century examples bearing reliquary - or book - holding figures are inserted into a west-facing 19th century wall in the south aisle; the baptismal font may be the base of an early cross, and outside the east end of the church two further fragments of a cross were mounted together in 1897.