Welcome to Saint Patrick's Trian Visitor Complex

Saint Patrick's Trian Visitor Complex is an exciting visitor complex located in the heart of Armagh City.  Saint Patrick's Trian (pronounced Tree-an) derives its name from the ancient division of Armagh City into three distinct districts, or 'Trians'.  They were known as Trian Mor (to the south and west), Trian Masain (to the east) and Trian Sassenach or Saxon (to the north).  The city today has an English Street, Irish Street and Scotch Street which roughly mark the boundaries of these Trians.  

The Complex features three major exhibitions:

The Armagh Story - Step back in time and visit historic Armagh - from massive stone monuments of pre history, with its myths and legends, to the coming of Saint Patrick and Celtic Christianity.  Travel on through a Viking raid and pass the funeral of an Irish High King.  This will bring you on to meet Francis Johnston, the renowned Armagh architect, who relates the history of Georgian buildings in the city in a most unusual manner. 

A thought provoking audio-visual presentation portrays 'Belief' throughout the world, with particular emphasis on Armagh, as the Christian Capital of Ireland.

Patrick's Testament - The Book of Armagh - A new exhibition on the Book of Armagh has recently opened at the centre.  The interactive displays allow the visitor to find out about this ancient manuscript through touch screen computers and hands on activities.

The Book of Armagh is one of the greatest treasures to survive from Early Christian Ireland.  The Book, written in the year 807 by the scribe Ferdomnach, is one of Ireland's most precious historic records because of what it tells us about Saint Patrick. 

In the new exhibition you can find out about the Book, its links with Saint Patrick, and Armagh - the Christian Capital of Ireland.  The computers allow you to question three people who were connected with the Book and discover how to make medieval inks and a quill pen.  Other hands-on activities include tracing the symbols for St Matthew taken from the manuscript and making a rubbing of one of its pages. 

The Land of Lilliput - Jonathan Swift, author and clergyman, spent time in the Armagh area and his most famous work 'Gullivers Travels' is encapsulated in the fantasy 'Land of Lilliput'.  Here, the adventures are narrated with the help of a 20 foot giant!

Opening Times:

September - June

Monday-Saturday  10:00am-5:00pm   Sunday  2:00pm-5:00pm

July - August

Monday-Saturday  10:00am-5:30pm   Sunday  2:00pm-6:00pm

Saint Patrick's Trian

40 English Street

Armagh

Northern Ireland

BT61 7BA

+44 (028) 3752 1801