If you had told me I would spend my day trudging through Irish Cemeteries, I would have called you crazy. If you had told me it would become my favorite location of the day, I would have called you crazier.
Today I visited the Saint Patrick Center, Down Cathedral, Saint Patrick’s Grave, and the Saul Church. Part of the Saint Patrick Trail, these sites are pieces of living history that date back many hundreds of years.
The Saint Patrick Center is a walk-through exhibit that uses modern technology to take you back to the time of Saint Patrick. In it you learn of his kidnapping, enslavement, escape and journey to become Ireland’s Patron Saint.
Within walking distance of the center stands Down Cathedral, and the celebrated grave of Saint Patrick. The cemetery itself is very small, but in a secluded nook protected by high trees and the flank of the Cathedral itself. The afternoon had been rather blustery until I reached the site, and then such a sense of calm and reverence fell over me it was hard not to be completely and utterly charmed by the obvious sincerity of the place. The sun shone down as I walked amongst the stones, many weathered beyond recognition, others toppled into the soft earth. The quiet of the scene was a lovely change from the bustle of the streets I’d become used to. It wasn’t hard to imagine going there when one needed to reflect or be still.
We next visited Saul Church, and another cemetery. This cemetery was half-hidden in waist-high grass, but careful maneuvering revealed a small footpath weaving this way and that amongst the stones. Standing on the hill that sloped slowly down into the city itself, it became obvious why the Irish are so proud of their heritage. It lives near them in an ever-present aura, blending past and present into a beautiful cultural tapestry.
