Downpatrick – literally translating
to "St. Patrick’s Fort", a statue of the great
saint stands on top of nearby Slieve Patrick. In 1176 John de
Courcy claimed to have returned the remains of the saints Colmcille
and Bríd here and it was he who added "Patrick"
to the town’s name. Some believe Slieve Patrick to be the
final resting place of the great saint and pilgrims regularly
visit the site.
Grey Abbey – situated on the
northeastern shores of Strangford Lough, this town is both a haven
for the antique-shopper and also the site of perhaps the most
complete Cistercian abbeys in Ireland.
Holywood Town – situated to
the east of Bangor, Holywood is the site of a ruined 16th century
Franciscan monastery and a 70-foot mast known as the maypole.
Allegedly, when a Dutch ship ran aground in 1700 on May Eve, the
mast was cut down and used as part of the "May Day"
celebrations.
Legananny Portal Tomb – standing
on the slope of Slieve Croob, this impressive portal tomb is probably
Ulster’s most famous Stone Age monument. The nearby valley
was the scene of the last battle of the United Irishmen, some
of whom are buried in Saintfield.
Slieve Bearnagh, Mourne Mountains
Mourne Mountains – immortalised
in verse by the Percy French song "Where the Mountains of
Mourne Sweep Down to the Sea", these spectacular mountains
are 15 miles long and stretch between Newcastle and Rostrevor,
filling the southeastern corner of County Down. Visitors may explore
Silent Valley or climb Slieve Donard, the highest peak of the
range.
Rathfriland – the Brontë
homeland is centred on Drumballyroney Parish School where Patrick
Prunty (later Brontë) father to Charlotte, Anne and Emily
taught. Patrick’s father was a storyteller, and it is thought
that many of the stories heard by the sisters gave them inspiration
for their novels.
Strangford Lough – lying to
the south of Bangor, this 15-mile stretch of water is a maritime
nature reserve of world importance. The Lough provides refuge
for seals, particularly at its southern end, whilst thousands
of seabirds spend the winter months here.
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
– set in the beautiful parkland estate of Cultra Manor, this
extensive open-air museum gives impressions of rural and Urban
Irish life over the past few centuries. It also houses the Irish
Railway Collection, examples of the Dandy Horse (veteran motorcars)
and a 1982 De Lorean gull-wing stainless car. Aircraft exhibits
include the full-scale model of the monoplane used by Harry Ferguson,
the first Irish person to fly.
