Saturday 26 June saw the XIII St Columbanus Festival begin in Bangor with guest of Honour President Mary McAleese joining over 600 worshipers and distinguished guests to celebrate the life and work of Bangor’s most famous Saint.

This was the first time the event has been held outside of mainland Europe and saw 300 pilgrims from Italy, France and Germany join with locals at services in St Comgall’s and Bangor Abbey.

The day’s proceedings began with Mass at St Comgall’s, presided over by Cardinal Sean Brady and Bishop Noel Treanor. The service also saw the choir of St Columbanus High School perform to the congregation.

The festival then moved on for a service of celebration held at Bangor Abbey. After an opening address by Cannon Ronnie Nesbitt and Fr Joe Gunn the worshippers were treated to music from the band of The Royal Marines and song from “The Three Priests” and the Schola Cantorm Choir from St Peters Cathedral in Belfast.

Following the Abbey service distinguished guests including President McAleese, Lord Lieutenant of Co Down, David Lindsay and Lady Hermon MP attended the official opening of the two-day festival at North Down Museum.
President McAleese addressed the gathering and on Columbanus she said he was “a great Irish saint, a great European and a potent symbol of this Island's links with continental Europe” and went on to comment on the festival itself , “There was never a better time for a Columbanus festival – a time to be grateful for the remarkable journey already travelled and to commit anew to continuing our pilgrim journey to an island renewed and reimagined by the continuing relentless action of its peacemakers.
The prize, the destination is a place arrived at not easily but worth the work and described so beautifully and realistically by Columbanus as a place where "Clouds melt away and the harsh tempest stills, effort tames all, great toil is conqueror."

The event then moved on to Armagh on Saturday evening and Sunday for the continuation of the festival.