Lisburn

A cold March day but warm enough for a bit of an en-route historical detour by Brian and me.  We started at the site of the former Huguenot school.  Once a totally French school for French children in Northern Ireland - can't have ever been many of them.  Was there a French Language Act here back in the 1700s?

This is Richard Wallace's house.  He was MP for the area and is remembered by the Wallace School, Park and parkrun.  He gave a lot of his fortune to Lisburn but is best remembered by the Wallace Collection in London.






They've spent a lot of money restoring Castle park recently and very well it looks.  No money spent on Brian but he'sin good shape and doesn't need any restoration work, just yet.

Getting closer to the Cathedral and it's getting colder, time to go inside.









This is a fine place, with plenty of history.  I'm amazed by the tale of how a group of Suffragettes bombed the Cathedral in 1914. Only the outbreak of war saved those accused from jail.  Although continually shouting at the Judge in Court can't have helped their case.







The highlight of the day, a coffee shop within the Cathedral.  Well worth a visit.  Only two staff and us pair of dodgy customers.  We ate the entire stock of scones, which also numbered two.

Armagh - St Patricks

I enjoy Armagh after dark, the atmosphere reminds me of York on a quiet winter's night. The cathedral was locked but at least the gates were open to cater for nocturnal photographers.

Market Place below the cathedral.  An excellent piece of architectural restoration and the best way to approach St Patrick's.  And the food in the Castle Place restaurant (on the right)
was excellent.

Dromore

This is the smallest cathedral that I've visited so far.  A real warm March day today.  But the doors were locked, so decided to move on to call at St Patricks in Armagh.
Sorry to have missed St Colman's pillow inside, it's made of stone, so he must have had a good few sleepless nights.