St Patrick

Patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick was a historical figure shrouded in legend and myth. St Patrick was largely responsible for the Christianisation of Ireland during the fifth century AD.

Historically, he was born in Britain, coming from a Romano-British family. He served for six years as a slave in Ireland after Irish pirates captured him when he was a teenager. Somehow he managed to escape and return to Britain, before his father sent him to the Continent for training as a priest. Patrick made it his mission to return and preach in Ireland. His works as a missionary proved to be a success, as he travelled widely in Ireland, preaching and baptising the pagan Irish population. He wrote two works, Confessio and Epistola.

As a legendary figure, St Patrick was said to have performed several miracles including destroying the gold icon of Crom Cruach and removing all of the snakes on the isle.

St Patrick appeared in the Acallam na Senórach ("Colloquy of the Ancients") where he met the aged Fian heroes – Caílte Mac Ronan and Oisín – 300 years later. These two warriors told of great deeds performed by Finn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna.

Patrick was the son of Calpurn. Patrick had the ability to perform miracles, including exorcising demons. At first, when Patrick met Caílte and heard the ancient warrior's stories, he thought these pagan tales might corrupt his church believers. However his guardian angels, Aibelán and Solusbrethach, told him that he should write down every tale or poem that the heathen bard recited.

St Patrick also appeared in Altrom Tig Da Medar or "The Nurture of the Houses of the Two Milk Vessels", which was preserved in the manuscript, the Book of Fermoy. Here, he was the cleric who baptised Eithne, a Danann woman who lost her power.