Follow in the footsteps of Ireland’s early saints as you explore the Bangor Christian Heritage Trail

Bangor has been at the centre of Ireland’s Christian Heritage from the 5th century onwards, and the holy men and women who studied and worshipped in this area have left a lasting legacy across Europe. According to legend, the unique spirituality of the area was first recognised by St. Patrick. The legend tells the story of how one night, while Patrick and his companions were camping in the area, ‘they beheld the valley filled with heavenly light and with a multitude of the host of heaven, they heard, as chanted forth from the voice of Angels, the psalmody of the celestial choir’. It is to this tradition that Bangor is described as ‘Vallis Angelorum’ – ‘The Valley of Angels’. Some years later, Comgall came to establish his famous foundation in the 6th century. A foundation that would become the nursery of saints and missionaries like Columbanus and Malachy – giving Bangor a lasting legacy of Christianity that spread far across the continent.

This audio guide will tell the story of Bangor’s Christian Heritage, as it leads you to North Down Museum, Malachy’s Wall, Bangor Abbey itself, as well as St. Comgall’s Church, Bangor First Presbyterian and a walk through lovely Strickland’s Glen and along the Coast Road.

This Audio Guide is an Abarta Heritage Production

This audio guide is an Abarta Heritage Production on behalf of Ards and North Down Borough Council, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. The script was written by Neil Jackman, and recorded at Bluebird Studios, Kildare with sound engineer Declan Lonergan and producer Róisín Burke in 2015.

We are grateful for the kind support of Alex Irvine and the staff of North Down Borough Council for their support throughout the project. For more information about places to see in the area please visit www.visitardsandnorthdown.com.