Saint Patrick Visitor Centre

The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre is a modern exhibition complex located in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a permanent interpretative exhibition centre featuring interactive displays on the life and story of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It provides the only permanent exhibition centre in the world devoted to Saint Patrick.cite web | title=About the Centre | work=Saint Patrick Visitor Centre | url=http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/ | accessdate=2008-05-30]

It is situated in the town centre, below Down Cathedral and the site of Saint Patrick's grave and is open all year round. It was established using Millennium Project funding from the National Lottery, [cite web | title=The Saint Patrick Centre | work=Heritage Island | url=http://www.heritageisland.com/The%20Saint%20Patrick%20Centre.asp | accessdate=2008-05-30] cost £6.3m and opened in 2001. [cite web | title=The Saint Patrick Centre | work=Irish Secrets | url=http://www.irishsecrets.ie/history-secrets/saint-patrick-centre.php | accessdate=2008-05-30] In the exhibition, entitled "Ego Patricius", Saint Patrick's own words are used to illuminate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and its development through his mission. It also reveals the artwork and metalwork which were features of the Early Christian period, as well as the major impact of Irish missionaries in this period in Europe. The exhibition uses a multi-media approach and state-of-the art technology to focus on the historical Saint Patrick and not on the legends, as well as a film shown in the purpose-built cinema. The design involves bold glass walls, life-size figurines, videos and voice recordings. [cite web | title=Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick (County Down) | work=About.com: Ireland Travel| url=http://goireland.about.com/od/countydown/gr/patrick_centre.htm | accessdate=2008-05-30]

Apart from the permanent exhibition, the Centre also features a tourist information centre, craft shop, cafe and art gallery. The Centre also has an Education Initiative reaching out to local schools.

Currently in planning (in 2008) are Ulster Irish and Ulster Scots workshops and the Centre has the support of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ulster-Scots Agency in these studies of local traditions. Support for the Centre has been growing from parents, schools, academics, artists, politicians and people in industry and commerce thanks to the people from a variety of academic disciplines who are presently planning its future. A range of scholars and political leaders from Europe and the United States are committed to supporting the continuing work of the Centre.cite web | title=Centre at the heart of town | work=Down Democrat, 21 May 2008 | url=http://www.downdemocrat.com/news/story/?trs=eygbauey| accessdate=2008-05-30]

In summer 2008, under The Young Ambassadors’ Programme, the Saint Patrick Centre is hosting twelve American university students, coming to learn about the people of Northern Ireland and feedback their discoveries to their families and friends and fellow students back at home.

The Building

The building was designed by architects Consarc and features a curved, suspended glass façade in a striking 10m high frameless glass entrance. This façade ensures maximum transparency of the interior to the people of Downpatrick and to visitors. The building is set partly into the ground to reduce its impact on the listed buildings behind, including the Cathedral, and uses the glass façade to counteract any tendency for the building to be seen as a bunker. As a result the building is welcoming, open and flooded with light. [cite web | title=St. Patrick Visitors' Centre, Downpatrick | work=Pilkingtons | url=http://www.pilkington.com/Applications/case+studies/uk/st+patrick+visitors+centre+downpatrick.htm | accessdate=2008-05-30]

Awards

The Centre was highly commended in the Information and Communication Category in the 2004 Northern Ireland Tourism Awards. [cite web | title=Saint Patrick Centre | work=Irish Tourist.com | url=http://www.irishtourist.com/details/saint_patrick_centre.shtml | accessdate=2008-05-30]

Funding Issues

In the first year of opening (2001 to 2002) the centre attracted more than 80,000 people, but even then it faced closure due to lack of funding. [cite web | title=St Patrick's centre cash crisis | work=BBC NI News, 19 April 2002 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1940481.stm | accessdate=2008-05-30] Down District Council has periodically had to provide funding.

References

External links

* [http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/ Saint Patrick Centre]
* [http://www.saintpatrickscountry.com Saint Patrick's Country]