St. Patrick’s Trian, Armagh City

The word ‘trian’ (pronounced tree-an) means ‘layer’ in Gaelic. During the Middle Ages, the city of Armagh was divided into three trians. They were represented by three districts – Trian Mor, Masain, and Sassenach. Today, the boundaries of these trians are marked by English Street, Irish Street, and Scotch Street.

The Armagh heritage experience called St. Patrick’s Trian features a comprehensive collection of exhibits related to the history of Armagh, divided, of course into three major portions:

The Armagh Story
This exhibition uses audiovisual techniques to guide visitors on a journey through significant historical events such as the life of St. Patrick, the Celtic Christians, and the invasions of the Vikings. The funeral of Brian Boru is dramatized. Emphasis is placed on the importance of faith worldwide and the significant role of Armagh in the development of the organized religions of Ireland.

Patrick’s Testament – the Book of Armagh
This new display features interactive exhibits explaining and detailing the contents of the Book of Armagh, which was written by Ferdomnach in 807. The book is valued for its detailed information about the life of St. Patrick, as well as his connections to the Armagh region. Learning activities delve deeply into the process of creating manuscripts during this early period.

The Land of Lilliput
Armagh was one of the favorite places of Jonathan Swift, author of the classic Gulliver’s Travels. In this exhibit, a model of a giant tells the story in the midst of a display filled with stunning, amazingly lifelike audiovisual and special effects.