Did you know that Patrick chose Armagh to be the centre of the Christian church in Ireland?  Today Armagh City boast two proud cathedrals both called St Patrick’s Cathedrals.  The oldest being St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral from where the Primate of All Ireland has his seat.  The second Cathedral St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral built after Catholic Emancipation for which  the foundation stone was laid on St Patrick’s day 1840. Here also is the seat of the Primate of All Ireland of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland.

The story of St Patrick’s links to Armagh is well documented in the 9th Century Manuscript – The Book of Armagh.  The manuscript was once reputed to have belonged to St Patrick and, at least in part, to be a product of his hand.  The book has several sections to it with the most informative section “Saint Patrick’s Confessio”.

 

Here we read “I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many”.

 

The Book of Armagh has had a very eventful life having passed through many hands before ended up on in Trinity College, Dublin.  Today it is on display alongside the other great manuscript The Book of Kells.  

 

We are very proud of our strong links to Saint Patrick and today the City has an historical trail of buildings linked into the church from its past to the present.  Looking across the hills to Navan Fort Centre the story of why St Patrick chose Armagh City as the centre of his church in Ireland is evident from the early Celts who settled and built their fort here.