Travel journalists on St Patrick trail

Travel journalists on St Patrick trail

16 October 2024

GERMAN and Swiss travel journalists spent the weekend in Downpatrick and Newcastle, walking and learning about St Patrick and his role in spreading Christianity across Europe.

The group of six, which included radio, television and online reporters, visited the Saint Patrick Centre exhibition, and walked and canoed part of St Patrick’s Way with pilgrim guides Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly.

Peter Kaiser, of Deutchsland Radio, recorded the bird sounds of the Quoile as the group paddled the river to Inch Abbey, before visiting Saul Church, the site of St Patrick’s first church on the island.

“I am so overwhelmed with what St Patrick has done, and his life,” said Mr Kaiser, who makes religious programmes. 

The other journalists, who also visited Slieve Patrick, Down Cathedral, St Patrick’s Grave and Tollymore Forest Park Newcastle, included Ralf Grun, Alissa de Robillard, Verena Wolff, Andreas Drouve, and Jurgen Pfister.

The journalists were guests of Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI which showcased the varied cultural and heritage experiences available in County Down and Armagh.

The itinerary included walking tour of Armagh City and its two cathedrals as well as Navan Centre and Fort, and an e-bike tour of St Patrick’s Way around Newry canal with Bike Mourne.

Elaine Kelly, a pilgrim guide on St Patrick’s Way, said she hoped that their experience would inspire German and Swiss readers to come and follow in their footsteps. 

“It was a joy to welcome the group to The Saint Patrick Centre where they were able to learn about St Patrick and his amazing journey as a slave turned missionary in their own language,” said Miss Kelly. “The newly revamped  IMAX film not only tells the story of St Patrick but reveals how he inspired others such as St Columbanus to take his message right across Europe including Switzerland and Italy.”

“The journalists were really engaged and asked lots of questions about the area, the history and about St Patrick and the camino route and how it came about.”

Nadine Lehmann, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Germany, said the fact-finding visits are an effective way to relate all the positive experiences Northern Ireland has to offer.

She said: “The articles these travel journalists will produce will be read by hundreds of thousands of potential holidaymakers – inspiring them to put Northern Ireland on their holiday ‘wish-list’.”

The group also travelled with Fiona Liversidge, Tourism NI and Belfast-based German Blue Badge guide Petra Herrmann.