Ards and North Down Borough Council, with support and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), have brought the towns Christian Heritage to life through the production of a new DVD and music CD.

The DVD features a selection of six short films showing the history of Bangor and highlighting its importance to the development of Christianity, not just here in Ireland but across Europe.

The DVD has a dual purpose, to animate tours to local Christian Heritage sites such as North Down Museum and Bangor Abbey, and also as an educational tool available to schools. The DVD compliments the publication, “the White Dove”, a comic which tells the history of Columbanus and the free Bangor Christian Heritage Trail mobile App, both supported by the HLF and available for schools to aid in the teaching of the areas local history.

The “Journey of a Single Day” CD brings together music and poetry from across Europe and the countries Columbanus established monastic settlements including; France, Italy, Germany and Ireland north and south.

The 18 tracks range from choral to traditional and instrumental to the works of Columbanus brought together through his poems. Locally it features works from the Ards CCE, the DIT Irish Traditional Music Ensemble, local poets and Bangor Ladies and Ballyholme Primary School Choirs.

At the recent launch event Tourism Development Officer for Ards and North Down Borough Council, Alex Irvine said, “We are delighted that both the DVD and CD can be launched to mark St Comgall’s Day in May. Our aim is to keep Christian Heritage to the fore, both locally and within education but also for visitors to the town to be able to learn more about the town’s heritage in new and innovative ways. We are grateful to the HLF for all the support over the past year in delivering this suite of products”.

Mark Glover, Heritage Lottery Fund NI said “This has been a fascinating project which has explored St Columbanus and Bangor’s strong role in Europe’s Christian heritage. The project has told this story through a number of initiatives from exhibitions, events, trails and now the DVD and CD. We were delighted to support the council in taking such an innovative approach highlight the rich local heritage. It is thanks to players of the National Lottery that we can help fund projects such as these”.

Copies of the DVD and CD can be obtained by contacting bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or 028 9127 0069.