Largest St Patrick Statue in World Saul Downpatrick
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Designed in the Art Deco style like its contemporary Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, but carved from solid granite rather than soapstone, the Saul Memorial is the tallest statue of Saint Patrick in the world.
Construction began in 1932, the 1500th anniversary of St. Patrick’s landing at the nearby Slaney which brought Christianity to Ireland.
The figure is carved with the robes of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the Primate of all Ireland and was given the face of the Protestant Bishop of Dublin as a way of bringing all Christians together to celebrate Patrick’s legacy.
I've travelled away from Downpatrick, called in at Saul where St Patrick set up his first church and have now gone a mile further on to reach impressive Slieve Patrick. Right at the top of this hilltop, looking out over the whole vast Leacale district stands the largest statue of St Patrick to be found anywhere in the world! For many this is a place of pilgrimage or even penance but it is also an outstanding area of tranquail beauty with magnificent stretching away into the distance across rolling green drumlins towards Strangford and the Quoile and beyond.
Around Ireland there are many monuments and shrines to St Patrick. This one, at Slieve Patrick a few miles outside Downpatrick, is easily the most outstanding. It was built in 1932 to celebrate 1500th anniversary of Patrick's landing. A granite statue was carved from stone quarried at Ballymagreshan north of Castlewellan and erected on a small mountain east of Downpatrick formerly known as Slieve William. It was quickly renamed Slieve Patrick. As part of the millennium celebrations in 2000 a grotto was built. Each year on 17th March (St Patrick's day.) Catholic pilgrims walk from Downpatrick to the shrine.
On a clear day the Mourne mountains can be seen to the west, the Sperrin's to the north west, Cave Hill to the north east, the Cumbrian mountains and the Isle of Man to the east as well as a fine view of Strangford Lough.
I have been there I love walking up st Patrick’s moutain
What a fantastic view from the top Tony! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
I live within half a mile of there and I've been there several times. It's nice but there's one small detail about it that had been annoying me for a while. (Someone else must know what it is) there is a geocashe (another word for a small plastic treasure chest) somewhere at the top that I just can't find no matter how hard I try!
Thank you for sharing this! I visited these locations (Downpatrick, Saul Church, and Slieve Patrick) in summer of 2013, but was nearly out of time, energy, and battery life on my camera by the time I reached Slieve Patrick, so regretfully I wasn't able to ascend the summit (only half way up) and wasn't able to capture much footage. You've done exactly what I wished I could do, and I'm so glad I could view and share this.
Hey WildcatTech thanks indeed, for your much appreciated remarks.
I am a total amateur so my camera work often leaves a lot to be desired. I do try but.....
This was my first visit to the big statue. I was amazed at the structure and also the panoramic views offered. This is another of our hidden treasures. ( I have another 1200 videos on CZcams covering all aspects of positive life in and around Belfast and beyond. )
Best wishes.
Tom. i`ll bet you thought you were in Rio with that giant statue
+prawnjohn Ha ha ha I had thought of that prawnjohn ! lol
Great minds and that.
And the weather was amazing for this time of year. non stop sunshime! Just like Rio again.
My god Tom .., you are as fit as a fiddle!! Think I will put you in the grand national this year!! Lol
+Ryan Darcy And just before this Ryan I had half wrecked myself in the garden digging clearing and lugging concrete pillars about for 3 days and doing the housework.
When i saw the slieve Patrick hill i had to go for it because I wanted to be back in downpatrick to video the Saul walkers coming up cathedral hill led by the piper. so there was no hanging about. What a view totally amazing. i had never been to slieve Patrick or Inch Abbey ever before.
Once I get a thing in my head like this I just have to go for it. I have lazed about all today because i'm sore all over. It was really quite cold to on the old bike going and coming from Downpatrick. Your comment made me smile.
Its in Saul Tom not Downpatrick
Right, fair enough Sean. I will amend my title and notes. Best wishes from Belfast.
@@TomMcClean im in Belfast too now 👍🇮🇪
Right Sean.