St Patrick

Saint Patrick was a missionary who helped to make Ireland a Christian country.  Patrick was born in Roman Britain in about 387AD and his birth name may have been Maewyn Succat.  When he was about 16, he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave.  Two letters written by Patrick have survived. In one letter, he says that he was managed to escape from his enslaved life after 6 years.

He returned to Britain but later felt called to go back to Ireland to spread Christian beliefs. He had come from a Christian family, and his faith had helped him during his time as a slave. He spent the rest of his life traveling around Ireland as a missionary.

There are many stories and legends about Saint Patrick. Many of them were written more than 200 years after he died, so no one can be sure whether they are true.  One legend tells how Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Another story tells how he used the shamrock during his missionary work. A shamrock has three leaves on each stem and Patrick used this to explain the idea of the Holy Trinity.

Saint Patrick’s feast day is celebrated every year on 17th March.