This is where we must begin his story. At the time when he was born and died, both legends and myths were popular with the scribes in Ireland. And so it was with his story too. This article attempts to separate the facts from legend, the myths from the truth.


The Facts
He was born Maewyn Succat in Wales (Roman Britain) in 400 A.D. His primary language therefore was Latin since his father was a deacon in the Christian church (this was a time when all Christians were one). His father’s name was “Calpurnius” and his mother’s name was “Conchessa”. At the young age of 16, he was kidnapped by Niall of the Nine Hostages of Ulster, who often raided the coast of Roman Britain. Returning to Ireland, Niall sold him to a man name “Meliuc” who was a landowner in Co. Antrim, where he was forced to work as a shepherd keeping a watchful eye on his master's sheep on Slemish Mountain. While in Ireland, Maewyn Succat learned the Irish language, since his ‘master’ was a high druidic priest and through him he became aware of druidism. Ireland was then a land of druidism, and Maewyn did not favor the druids nor their pagan religion.

Patrick would later write in one of his two books, “Confessio”, that his life as a young shepherd was a lonely one. Having been taken from his home in Roman Britain, he found himself praying often finding solace in his Christian faith. One night after many years of captivity, a voice told him to escape on a ship. But escape to where? The voice said he would find the ship 200 miles away in Wexford. Leaving Antrim he travelled over lands he had never before seen and he finally arrived in Wexford where a ship awaited passage back to Roman Britain. Denied passage at first he would finally be able to board and complete his escape from Ireland.

From Roman Britain he then travelled to France and St. Martin's monastery at Tours. Later he went to Lerins monastery. Under the guidance of St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre in France, he was ordained a priest and helped St. Germain oppose heresy and paganism. He became a bishop in 432 A.D. and it was then that Pope Celestine conferred upon him the name "Patercius" or "Patritius" (meaning "father of his people").

He was given the task of converting the Irish to Christianity. To be sure this was to be no easy task. Under the patronage of "Dichiu" an early convert and landowner in Ireland, he set out to complete his mission. But first he needed the permission of the King of Tara. So on March 25th Saint Patrick lit a fire in observance of Easter. King Laoghaire when seeing the fire ordered the men of the Four Tribes of Tara (defenders of Tara , its King, realm and its rules) to put out the fire and to bring whomever had started the fire to him for punishment. The men of the Four Tribes seized St. Patrick, but no matter what the men of the Four Tribes did, the fire could not be put out. They returned with St. Patrick under their control telling the High King Laoghaire that they could not put out the fire. The King then listened to St. Patrick explain the Easter Observance, and the King was quoted as saying, " as I could not put out his Easter Fire, nor could I possibly then put out this new faith". King Laoghaire saw before him a man of simplicity, and so he listened to what Patrick planned to do and gave him permission to go amongst the people.

The people of Ireland could not understand the doctrine of the Trinity where three persons made up one divine God. So Patrick plucked from the ground a "Seamróg or Shamrock" showing three leaves were tied to one stem. Using the Seamróg as an analogy the people finally began to understand what he was preaching. This forevermore tied Saint Patrick and his day to the Irish Shamrock.

His knowledge of the Irish language made it easier for him to press on and convert most of Ireland. Even when attempts were made upon his life he stayed true to his mission. Without his earlier work european civilization would have suffered since Rome was soon to fall just 16 short years after his death. The Dark Ages would prey upon Europe like a Grim Reaper for the next 3 centuries. Only in Ireland, would the "light of civilization" continue to burn amongst Saint Patrick's monks and monasteries who tirelessly recorded Europe's knowledge, culture, civilization and literacy of their time. (Later Ireland's monks would go out as emissaries helping to bring civilization back to the european continent.)

St. Patrick died on March 17, 460 A.D. and is buried in Downpatrick, Co. Down. Or at least it is believed that is the date since the calendar created by Julius Caesar and known as the "Julian" calendar was in effect at that time. Today we use the "Gregorian" calendar and this then would place his death in early March. Nevertheless, this gives us cause to celebrate his life and death for a month prior to the 17th of March.

The Myths
St. Patrick is said to have gathered all the snakes on Croagh Patrick mountain in Co. Mayo. From there he banished them all from Ireland. The truth is that proof of snakes ever existing in Ireland cannot be found. (Today people climb the 2,500 foot mountain in their bare feet as St. Patrick once did.)

The first St Patrick's Day parades were not in Ireland, but in Boston in 1737, and later in New York City in 1762.

Corned beef and cabbage was not a regular dish in Ireland till the 1600s, and not till the late 1800s in America. There is no record of St. Patrick ever having such a meal.

Before he died, legend says an angel told him to tie two oxen to a funeral cart, and wherever the oxen chose he should be buried that would be his final resting place. The oxen chose Downpatrick, County Down.

The Present Day
There are those who wish to celebrate his day, by ignoring the man himself. This is wrong and we as descendents of Irish ancestors should at the very least remember Saint Patrick as the man that he was - and the gift that he gave to Ireland. As the patron saint of Ireland he belongs to us all, just as he belonged to our ancestors. So please remember this year to ..... "Keep Saint Pádraig in St. Patrick's Day".