As we crossed County Down, we admired again the thrifty farm-houses, well-tilled farms, and the little fields, green with potatoes and turnips, or waving with flax and oats.
In less than half an hour Downpatrick came in sight. We flew over the beautiful Gothic Down Cathedral, in the churchyard of which St. Patrick lies buried. Here also lies buried St. Bridget and St. Columba, two other noble characters in Ireland’s religious history.
St. Patrick was born in Scotland about the year 387. When he was sixteen years old, he was taken a captive, and sold as a slave to an Irishman, for whom he herded sheep and swine in County Antrim.
While a slave, he became a devout Christian, and made his escape when he was twenty-two years old. He entered a monastic school in France, and fitted himself as a Missionary to Ireland. At that time the Irish worshipped at Druid altars.
Landing at the mouth of the Slaney in County Down, he settled in Downpatrick. He remained here several years and then visited all parts of the island, meeting with marvelous success. In 457 he settled in Armagh and lived there for eight years.
While visiting in Downpatrick in his 78th year, he was seized with a fatal illness, and died at the scene of early labors. Here he was buried.
St. Bridget was born near Armagh about 453. She was rich and beautiful, but became a convert to Christianity, and devoted her life to missionary labors amongst the Irish. She died in 525, and was first buried at Kildare. Her remains and those of St. Columba were brought to Downpatrick in 1185. St. Patrick made the shamrock the national flower of Ireland by teaching from its three petals the doctrine of the Trinity.
Turning west from Downpatrick, Mike and I followed in the air St. Patrick’s footsteps to Armagh. Before entering County Armagh, we crossed over a pretty village, called Banbridge. County Armagh resembles County Down in its general appearance. It was a beautiful picture of rural quietude. It was after two o’clock when we caught our first glimpse of the famous Irish city of Armagh.
This is Ireland’s most sacred city. Two Primates of Ireland live here, and here are two Archbishops, and two magnificent Cathedrals. Armagh is a well-built town of some 8,000 inhabitants. It is built partly on a hill, which makes some of its streets quite steep. A Cathedral was founded here by St. Patrick in 432. His Eminence, Cardinal Logue, an able and learned divine, is the Roman Catholic Primate, while Dr. Alexander is the Protestant Primate of the island. The ecclesiastical head of the Presbyterian Church is called the Moderator, and is elected every year.
We sailed over the beautiful grounds of Dr. Alexander’s Palace, and were reminded of his gifted wife, who wrote: