Patrick, Saint

Patrick, Saint (about 385-about 461 ad), patron saint of Ireland, b. in the west of Britain.

Patrick's home was at a place called Bannavem Taberniae in Roman Britain. It is thought to have been near the mouth of the River Severn in present-day Monmouthshire, a county in south east Wales.

At the age of about sixteen, Patrick was carried off by pirates to be a slave in Ireland. He escaped and returned home but afterwards trained in Rome to be a priest and finally went back to convert the pagan people of Ireland.

He became known and loved all over Ireland and many wonderful stories are told about him.

However, all that is known for sure is in his own little book, The Confession Of St. Patrick. A beautiful old manuscript copy of this can be seen today in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.