Colin Holliday, Tower Captain of the St Comgall’s Church of Ireland Bell Ringers’, will give a short introductory talk about bell ringing which will be followed by the church bell ringers’ practice session.   Doors open at 7.00pm. The bell ringing talk will be held inside the church.  Once the talk is over, guests will move […]

Cormac Bourke, a renowned expert on monastic bells, will deliver a lecture entitled ‘Early Irish Hand-Bells Revisited.’  He will summarise what we know about the dozens of hand-bells of iron and bronze that survive from early medieval (ie pre-Norman) Ireland. Hand-bells were used from the 5th century in monastic communities and churches and are the […]

Acclaimed artist Jessica Hollywood will lead a print workshop to teach participants how to decorate and print their own Bangor Bell postcard using vintage letterpress techniques.  Materials supplied. Celebrate the Columbanus Festival at Seacourt Print Workshop and take part in a unique activity designed specifically to honour the Bangor Bell. During the workshop you will […]

An evening of words, music and song to celebrate the legacy of Columbanus.  Learn about the story of Columbanus, poetry and writings of the monastic scribes, and join a session of foot tapping, traditional Irish music provided by special guests Ards CCE musicians. Maire Foley, a member of Friends of Columbanus Bangor, will give a […]

Experienced and qualified tour guides Bridget Watson and Barbara Boyle will lead a guided walk tracing the footsteps of Columbanus from Bangor to Bobbio following the Bangor Bell Trail, starting from Bangor Abbey car park. This is a short walk of around 500 metres on flat ground.  Walkers should prepare for the outdoor weather and […]

This will be a cross-community, united Church Service to commemorate the life of Columbanus.   Representatives of Presbyterian, Catholic, Church of Ireland and Methodist churches will take part in the service.  Guest Speaker is Brother Thierry Marteaux OSB (Order of St Benedict), Holy Cross Abbey, Rostrevor Everyone is welcome to attend this cross- community church service.  […]

Bangor Carnegie Library For opening times please see the Library Website After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West, Europeans built on its foundations to develop their own culture and identity. The Irish played an important role in this great enterprise. Columbanus and his followers, including Gall, were the first of the Irish […]