Columbanus Festival 2024

Commemorating the life and legacy of Columbanus and Gall

A festival of workshops, walks and talks will commemorate the life and legacy of Columbanus and Gall.

This year's festival theme is...

GALL: The man, the monk, and the bear

Gall, an Irish monk who was educated at Bangor Monastery, left Bangor for Europe circa 590 with Columbanus and 11 other disciples on a pilgrimage for Christ.

His memory and legacy lives on, not just in Bangor, but in the beautiful city of St Gallen, Switzerland, where he died in 645. Learn all about Gall and what he achieved in his lifetime by attending lectures, walks, cultural events and church services at various venues throughout Bangor.

Event programme

22 November | Gall: the man, the monk and the bear / 18:30 – 19:30 / Free
St Gall's Church, Carnalea, Bangor
Join Rev Michael Parker for a tour of St Gall's Church and a talk about Gall by Leanne Briggs.

23 November | Gall Lecture: An Irish Treasure Chest on the Continent / 11:00 – 13:00 / £10
SPACE Theatre, Castle Park Road, Bangor
Cornel Dora, director of the Abbey Library, St Gallen, Switzerland, will give a lecture on the incredible collection of Irish manuscripts and writings, attributed to monks in Bangor and Nendrum monastic site that are kept in the magnificent Abbey Library (Ticket includes lunch).

23 November | Stained Glass Windows Talk / 14:00 – 15:00 / £6
St Columbanus Church of Ireland, Ballyholme, Bangor
An illuminating talk about the 15 stained glass windows illustrating the saints of Bangor and Co Down (price includes a booklet on the stained glass windows).

23 November | Columbanus Mass at St Comgall's Church / 18:30 – 19:30 / All Welcome
St Comgall's Church, Brunswick Road, Bangor
Fr Joe Gunn will conduct a special mass to mark the installation of a Gall relic.

23 November | Columbanus Cultural Evening and Dinner / 20:00 – 22:30 / £30
Bangor Golf Club, Broadway, Bangor
A three course dinner followed by music, song and dance provided by award winning Ards CCE traditional Irish musicians, singers and dancers.

24 November | Gall Walk / 13:30 – 15:00 / £5
Meet at St Gall's Church, Carnalea, Bangor
A guided 3 mile walk along the Bangor coastal path from St Gall's Church to North Down Museum.

24 November | United Church Service / 18:30 – 19:30 / All welcome
St Gall's Church, Carnalea, Bangor
A cross-community church service. To support those in need, please bring a Christmas food gift or grocery item which will be distributed by Storehouse, a local food bank.

All ticketed events must be booked in advance.
Tickets available to book soon!

Tickets will be available from:

Bangor Visitor Information Centre - Tower House, 34 Quay Street | T: 028 9127 0069

Ards Visitor Information Centre - 31 Regent Street, Newtownards | T: 028 9182 6846

Or, online.

Please note, online booking fees apply. Avoid the booking fee and buy direct through our Visitor Information Centres.

For further information, visit friendsofcolumbanusbangor.co.uk

The Columbanus Festival has received funding by the Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Borough Council.