Landmark local buildings to open on heritage days

7 September 2016

PEOPLE across the district are being encouraged to make the most of this year’s European Heritage Open Days when a host of buildings and historical sites will be open the public this weekend.

They include Loughinisland Churches and Rademon Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church which will be open this Saturday and Sunday.

Stormont Communities Minister, Paul Givan, said history and culture will be brought to life with over 300 property openings and events

across Northern Ireland this weekend.

He said this year’s programme features a wide variety of special events such as walking tours, history re-enactments and film screenings, with all events free of charge to provide people with an opportunity to step back in time.

Loughinisland Churches’ atmospheric graveyard was originally on an island in the lake. A remarkable group of three ruined churches stands in the large graveyard overlooking the lake. The earliest recorded reference is to a parish church here in 1302-1306.

Rademon Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church was built in 1787 during the ministry of the Reverend Moses Neilson. The T-shaped building was restored in 2002 and has two storeys with three galleries with exterior steps and original fielded panel pews.

Local events include:

Friday

Talk by Sean O’Murchadha: Downpatrick Library

Saturday

Castlewellan Arboretum and Annesley Gardens

First Presbyterian Church, Saintfield

Portico, Portaferry

Heritage Tour of Comber

Castleward, Strangford

Sunday

Rademon Non -Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Crossgar

Light Ship 'Petrel', Killinchy

Guided Walk around Saintfield

Saintfield Masonic Hall

Saturday and Sunday

Downpatrick and County Down Railway, Downpatrick

Inch Abbey, Downpatrick

Struell Bath Houses & Wells, Downpatrick

Dundrum Castle

Ardtole Church, Clough

Portaferry Castle

Cowd Castle, Ardglass

Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church

Loughinisland Churches

Portaferry Methodist Church

Clough Castle

Mahee Castle, Comber

Portaferry Visitor Information Centre

Maghera Church and Round Tower, Downpatrick

Raholp Church, Downpatrick

Quoile Castle, Downpatrick

Sketrick Castle, Killinchy

Jordan's Castle, Ardglass

St John's Point Church, Killough

See further information on the Discover Northern Ireland website: https://www.discovernorthernireland.com/EHOD-in-Co-Down-T22206-L4

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