St Patrick’s Day

To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Claire McCollum is in Northern Ireland meeting Christians inspired by the saint’s extraordinary story and following in his footsteps.

At Slemish Mountain in County Antrim, Claire meets local hillwalker Noel Hughes, whose faith has been inspired by the life of St Patrick since childhood. She discovers the story that Patrick was first brought to Slemish to work as a slave, only to return later as a missionary called by God.

Did you know St Patrick is patron saint not only of Ireland but of Nigeria too? We hear from a Nigerian priest now ministering in Northern Ireland who feels a deep connection between Patrick’s story and his own.

And Claire visits St Patrick’s Church in Belfast, where she gets up close to what is believed to be a relic of the very saint himself, and discovers what it means to local Christians.

With hymns from across Northern Ireland and a special performance of Amazing Grace from Croagh Patrick:

1. Be Thou My Vision - Down Cathedral, Downpatrick
2. Amazing Grace - Celtic Woman
3. I Will Sing the Wondrous Story - Guildhall, Londonderry
4. Immortal Invisible - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
5. Christ Be Beside Me - Guildhall, Londonderry
6. I Bind unto Myself - St Patrick's Church, Dungannon
7. To God Be the Glory - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen