Archaeology & Legend in St Patrick's Country | June 2026

Hear ACE Tour Director and museums expert Mike King uncover what makes an archaeology tour to Britain and Ireland so unique, including discussing the distinct climate of the British and Irish Isles and the community driven approach to an archaeological dig.

This new tour charts a course through the historical tapestry and enduring legends associated with St Patrick, focusing on the counties of Down, Armagh, and Antrim. The region boasts a breathtaking landscape where dramatic coastlines meet remnants of volcanic activity, all seamlessly interwoven with lush greenery that gently slopes towards the serene expanse of Loch Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles.

It is within this landscape that the figure of St Patrick, revered as the ‘Apostle of Ireland,’ began his pivotal missions, founded his first church and ultimately designated Armagh as the spiritual heart of Northern Ireland. On this tour we will delve deeply into the origins of Irish Christianity as well as the country's ancient past and the landscape and narratives that shaped it.

In Down, we will explore the St Patrick Centre – home to the only permanent exhibition in the world illustrating the St Patrick's life from his Roman origins to existence as a slave, and eventual return as a saint. We will also discover nearby Saul Church and the stunning 12th century Down Cathedral. Known as the ‘Cradle of Christianity in Ireland’, the site of Saul was where Patrick established his first church, while Down Cathedral is said to house his final burial place. These sites, together with St Patrick’s Cross, will enable us to explore early Irish Christian iconography. Continuing to Nedrum, an early medieval monastic site founded by St Mahee who was a student of Patrick, we will uncover the patron saint’s contemporaries as well as his lasting impact on Christian traditions in Ireland.

The 5th century stone monastery, St Patrick’s Cathedral, is said to have been founded by the saint and is the seat for the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh. Prior to the 16th century Protestant Reformation, the cathedral was the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and head of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Throughout its history, this site was one of the most important churches in Gaelic Ireland, cementing Armagh's position as the ecclesiastical capital.

We will continue to explore the significance of Irish Christianity and religion at sites such as Donaghmore High Cross and Ardboe High Cross. These monuments, developed in Britain and Ireland during the Early Medieval period from Christian traditions under the Roman Empire, are often adorned with various religious motifs. Donaghmore High Cross, dating from the 10th century, is one of Ireland's best-preserved of its kind, and features mythological scenes such as Romulus and Remus alongside Celtic ornamentation. Ardboe High Cross, located at the 17th century monastery entrance, displays twenty-two panels depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

Our exploration of Down, Antrim and Armagh will provide a comprehensive perspective on Irish history, including an enriching visit to the Ulster Museum, which houses displays of Irish history and art spanning from the prehistoric to the contemporary period. Besieged by the Scottish, Irish, English and French, the Norman castle of Carickfergus in Antrim was strategically prominent, and one of the best preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland, offering an important insight into Northern Ireland’s military significance from the medieval to the world wars. At the Armagh County Museum, the oldest county museum in Northern Ireland, we will encounter collections that narrate centuries of compelling local stories, encompassing local history, fine art, archaeology and natural history.

The unique blend of Ireland's dramatic landscapes, its poignant history and the evocative tales passed down through storytelling and song has given rise to an array of incredible legends. Dunluce Castle, a medieval site once used by both early Christians and Vikings, adopts a dramatic position upon a basalt outcrop and has fueled countless imaginative stories, from C S Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia to local tales of banshees. At Bonamargy Friary, we will consider the intersection between religion and folklore. While this Franciscan Friary produced four manuscripts containing theological works and ‘Blessed Scriptures’, it is perhaps best known for the story of Julia McQuillan, ‘the Black Nun’, who supposedly haunts the site. Dating back to approximately 95 BCE, Navan Fort was an Iron Age ritual center, a royal seat of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland, and closely linked to the Tain legends of the Ulster Cycle.

Finally, a visit to the Giant's Causeway will solidify the profound connection between the spectacular landscape and vibrant layers of legend in Northern Ireland. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features an extraordinary array of tightly packed, hexagonal basalt columns that rise from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. According to geomythology, these unique formations were not the result of volcanic activity but were created by a giant – Fionn mac Cumhaill. This awe-inspiring location is deeply embedded in heroic tales and continues to inspire myths, artistic endeavors and even modern television, such as Game of Thrones. The striking symmetry and natural beauty of the Giant's Causeway offers a powerful testament to the enduring allure of the entire region's geological wonders and their influence on history, religion and culture.

This tour will be led by Mike King, BA, MA, a museum professional for over 30 years. Mike has a passion for Irish archaeology, Britain and Ireland’s early medieval culture, European pilgrimage and carved stones, and has curated an exhibition on the megaliths of Northern Ireland. He has worked as Heritage Manager for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and co-ordinated the protection and movement of a 10th century high cross in Downpatrick.