The theme of Down County Museum’s St Patrick’s Week conference on Friday 13 March is ‘buildings and artefacts made out of granite from the Mournes and the Newry area’.
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A derilect granite house in the Mournes.[/caption]
The museum’s curator Mike King said: “Geologist Ian Meighan will be talking about the types of granite used to fashion County Down’s high crosses, and what stones were used to build local round towers about a thousand years ago. Both Mourne granite, formed over 60 million years ago, and Newry granite, formed over 400 million years ago, were used for these purposes.
“Niall Colfer of University College Dublin will be talking about the millstones carved out of Mourne granite, and the evidence for their production. Niall will be exploring the millstone quarries of the Mournes, from medieval to more recent times, and the places where millstones can be found today.
“I will also be talking about some the granite artefacts in the museum collections, including grinding stones, cross-slabs, and vessels, many of which will be going on display around the Mourne granite Downpatrick high cross in the new museum extension to open later this year.
“The day will include a chance to hear about progress with the extension, with its fine view of Down Cathedral. After lunch there will be a short bus trip to Saul Church, built largely from granite in 1933.
“The visit will end at Down Cathedral, where participants will be able to see the 1200 year-old Mourne granite St Patrick’s Cross, and the Cathedral font, which was once used as a socket stone for a high cross. A visit to the granite slab placed at the traditional site of St Patrick’s Grave in 1900, will be the final destination of the day.”
The full day which includes tea/coffee and scones and a 2-course lunch, is priced at £20, and tickets can be booked through Down County Museum (phone 028 44 615218).
The day starts at 9.30am with registration from 9.15am.
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