Preface by Margaret Ritchie MP

Preface

By Margaret Ritchie MP

Ihave known for a long time that County Down, and south Down in particular, is special… a land steeped in history and rich in heritage. In particular, the story of Christianity in Ireland begins, blossoms, and finds its home in the Downpatrick/lecale area where saint Patrick first arrived in Ireland to begin his astonishing lifelong mission. There is nothing I would recommend more strongly to the visitor to County Down, than to go and walk in the footsteps of st Patrick by visiting the many historic and atmospheric Patrician sites in this area, especially saul Church, Inch Abbey, struell wells and Down Cathedral and graveyard.

I would also highly recommend to visitor and local resident alike, to go to many of the sites detailed in this book because although little remains of the built heritage of Patrick’s time of the 5th century, the wonderful monastic site at nendrum, the High Crosses of the 9th and 10th centuries and the round towers dating from that period onward are the built heritage treasures that remain from our early Christian tradition.

And make no mistake, these are built heritage treasures. not just because they reflect our early Christian history, but also because they are our oldest surviving architecture of any kind.

And they are also very much worth seeing: I mentioned nendrum and Inch especially – the site of the Maghera round tower and old church is beautiful and evocative too. see it on a clear evening when slieve Donard is in full view.

I want to congratulate the author, Peter Harbison, and everyone who has helped to produce this publication, for drawing important historic information together and promoting our heritage assets to the wider public. I am pleased also that the Downpatrick High Cross has its future secure in the shelter afforded by the nearby Down County Museum, and I pay tribute

to the excellent archaeological and conservation work in which the Museum is a key player.

I also want to sound a slight note of concern. It is worth noting that of our remaining round towers, none retain their original conical roofs or their height. A few of them are not much more than stumps. There has also been a neglect of our high crosses over the centuries. This is true right across the island and I do believe that Government authorities north and south must commit more resources to preserving our early Christian built heritage assets and their surrounding sites. we have a duty to protect these places for future generations while making them accessible to people in the present. The Museum’s publication serves both of these objectives - highlighting the condition of the assets while making them accessible and interesting for visitors.

I thoroughly recommend that readers of this book take up the opportunity presented inside, and go on the tour of County Down’s High Crosses and Round towers as outlined.

Visitors who do the tour will be rewarded with an appreciation of some fascinating structures in inspirational locations. locals may also increase their appreciation of the fact that we have inherited great treasures in this area. treasures from our past which are undoubtedly, in some way, part of what we are today.

[Map 1: County Down, showing symbols for High Crosses and Round towers].

The High Crosses and Round Towers of County Down.

The mouth of the Slaney River, where St Patrick is said to have arrived in County Down in 432 AD.