As Northern Ireland prepares to celebrate St Patrick's Day, there is one city in particular that has been preparing for months, and proudly celebrates its links to the patron saint year-round.
Armagh City, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, was chosen by St Patrick as the site of his first stone church in 445AD and to this day, remains the only city in the world with two cathedrals named after the saint.
Celebrations on March 17, and in the run-up, are a big deal in the city through the week-long Home of St Patrick Festival, culminating in a parade through the town on the day itself.
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There is one spot in particular where many of the events are held and centred - Aonach Mhaca, a cultural hub situated in the heart of Armagh City, which was opened just before the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. The centre is a landmark Irish language, arts, and cultural hub, with many community and arts groups involved in the St Patrick's Day celebrations based within its walls.
One such group are the Armagh Rhymers, who will be taking part in the parade. The group of theatre performers, musicians, and artists started out in the 1970s and carry on the ancient house visiting tradition known as mumming or rhyming. This is where groups would dress up in elaborate masks and costumes, going from door to door performing music and theatre.
Speaking to Belfast Live as preparations get underway, Clare Jennings, programme manager for the Armagh Rhymers, said: "We started as an organisation in the 1970s and it was an idea of bringing that tradition to life for school children across Northern Ireland who weren't getting access to live theater and performance otherwise.
"So instead of going from house to house, we started going from school to school, from venue to venue, and performing for people who wouldn't otherwise have access to live theater and performance.
"That's something we continue to do to this day. We are out in schools almost every day at the minute in the lead up to St Patrick's Day, bringing theater performance and storytelling to life for for new generations of children."
As for St Patrick's Day and what the saint means to the city, Clare added: "Armagh has always been an important site in Irish history history. We have Navan Fort just out a few miles outside the road, and it was the seat of the high kings of Ulster.
"When Christianity came in, then Armagh was decided to be such an important site that it would be the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, which it remains to this day. We're standing here with two cathedrals within distance, both named after St Patrick and St Patrick himself is said to have laid the first stone in the Church of Ireland, St Patrick's Cathedral.
"So we really are proud to to carry the name of Saint Patrick and to represent our patron saint here in Armagh, such an important part of our history. In the lead up to St Patrick's Day, the whole town comes together. We have a full festival of Saint Patrick that happens, that's currently underway."
The events, both in Aonach Mhaca and around Armagh, include something for everyone, from talks about history and culture, spiritual events, music, comedy, and a family funfair.
For Réamonn Ó'Ciaráin, chairperson of Aonach Mhacha, St Patrick's Day represents an opportunity to take a break and reflect on Irish culture and its impact on society.
He said: "On the day itself, our cafe will be serving traditional Irish fries and Irish stew. We will really have something for everyone, for all ages, and everyone in our community to come together and celebrate the saint who really gave us our name and culture."
As for what he loves about the holiday, Réamonn added: "I really love the sense of family and community, and the fact that Saint Patrick is global, but Armagh is probably the epicenter of the celebration of the patron saint of Ireland. I love the fact that people take time out to reflect on what it means to be Irish and what it means to live in such a wonderful part of the world.
"It's also a chance to plug into the rich culture, the language, the dance, the music, the games, and Aonhach Mhaca here would be a great place to come and have a taster of what St Patrick's Day represents on that very day, but really is available to us all here in Ireland and throughout the world, 365 days of the year."
The St Patrick's Day parade in Armagh kicks off on March 17 from Christian Brothers' School at 1.30pm, finishing up at Sherry’s Field Recreation Centre under the watchful gaze of both St Patrick’s cathedrals.
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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