Ireland is a pagan country. Rituals, Druids, worshiping the Sun, Fire Festivals, Raiding and Pillaging. A country not for the faint hearted. Slavery was the social system. Life expectancy was short, more often than not with a brutal ending.

 

While the Roman Empire had spread throughout Europe and into Britain up to the border of England and Scotland, (Hadrian’s Wall). They never did make it to Ireland. The Empire came under pressure at the end of the 300s. Rome was recalling their Legions back home, to defend the heart of the Empire. The barbarism that had attacked Southern Europe overran England and Wales. They had been left exposed. 

 

On numerous attacks on Wales, the Irish raiding parties had taken slaves back to Ireland with them. A particular trip included a boy aged 14/15 whose very existence was to change Irish history. His apprenticeship was herding sheep and pigs. Not a great outlook for the future. His pedigree, however, was different than normal. His family were of Roman origin. Higher up in the chain, educated, therefore could read and write. This was Patrick. Lonely and alone, Patrick turned to prayer. His mother was Christian. Concentration on prayer or a stroke of luck, Patrick dreamed of a boat that waited for him on a river. He escapes, arrives back in Wales. Years of absence have changed home, the country was in disarray. 

 

He is able to get a schooling studying for the priesthood and in the teaching of Christianity he decides to return to Ireland to preach to these pagans that he had lived among for years. Patrick would have had a group of followers with him. 

 

Quiver in the story. Back to 432 AD.

 

Patrick knows the schedules of these people. The rituals and feasts. The major Fire festival is after the spring Equinox, in modern times celebrated as Easter. In the Christian calendar the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox 21st March is Easter Sunday. This was determined by a Synod of bishops of Rome in the 700s, but celebrated as one of the Fire Festivals for thousands of years before then by a pagan race of people.

 

The High King of Tara, at this time is King Laoghaire, he would light the festival fire at Tara. Patrick, who had a few followers with him, went to the hill of Slane, north of Tara and built an enormous pile of firewood and anything else that was combustible. Igniting the pile! Sparks and flames consume the night skies. This did not impress the King or the Druids. Patrick is escorted back to Tara to explain his actions. Introducing the ideas of Christianity, the pagan King listened and was rather intrigued by this man’s beliefs. Days went by as the festival went on. Questions were asked and answered. When it came to explaining about ‘God’ Patrick picked up a ‘Shamrock’. “Look here” he said addressing King Laoghaire, “we have a stem with three leaves, the same as we have three persons, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, in the one God. A mystery yes but believable.

 

King Laoghaire, listening attentively, welcomed Patrick and his beliefs to the festival then sent him on his way with an escort of men to aid his journey through the lands.

 

Why would a pagan King want to be dictated to by a mere Christian, a former slave? Slavery is the bottom of the social ladder. Patrick knew this. Spending time, mulling over the whys and wherefores of Christianity, the topic came to education, reading and writing. Writing means contracts. Contracts means a bond. Continuing on from here we have courts, rules and regulations. A winner for the established rulers of each region.

 

Patrick was not the first person to arrive in Ireland preaching Christianity but he certainly was the most influential. Churches, Abbeys, Monasteries and Bishoprics grew up all over the Island. Pagan beliefs and festivals were adapted into Christianity. Both communities continued to live in harmony for hundreds of years without any battles or wars deciding the outcome.

 

The 17th March is believed to mark the death of Patrick. In the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries Ireland was known as The Island Of Saints and Scholars. Why? Europe was in a shambles after the Fall of the Roman Empire, social order and discipline had long since ceased. 

 

Missionaries left Ireland to spread the Gospel. Places such as the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland, St. Andrew’s, Lindisfarne and others. In France Luxeuil, Bobbio and Lucca in Italy and St. Gallen in Switzerland. Patrick would have risen to Sainthood when the Pope of Rome realized his value and worth to the expansion of the Catholic religion.

Read “How the Irish saved Civilization”.

 

When I was a younger man, St. Patrick’s day was a Catholic Church holiday. The Day began on a farm for example, with the tasks that had to be done. Workers in factories, warehouses, offices, schools had a day off work with pay. Attending mass one would wear a bunch of Shamrock on the lapel of their jackets, men had it on their hats, women on their bonnets. Afterwards dinner would be enjoyed in the middle of the day, then off to a football or hurling game. End of celebration.

 

Today the festival goes on for 4/5 days in our capital city Dublin. In countries and cities all over the world no other day has the recognition that this particular date has for a celebration. From Sydney, Hong Kong, All of Europe, The USA and Canada, South America, not to mention Ireland, every village, town and city have parades to mark the day. 

 

We have the final of our native Gaelic Athletic Association club games. College Rugby finals. It marks the end of the National Hunt Horse Racing season in Ireland. A week or so afterwards the clocks go forward an hour. In Ireland Saint Patrick’s day marks the beginning of the tourist season. From now until the end of October more than 8 million visitors will come to Ireland. During the off period we will process another multitude of visitors. 

 

Not only have we a Saint who has taken Ireland to the attention of the world, we also have a destination recognized the world over. A people that are welcoming and welcomed, associated with a uniquely favoured island. 

 

“Here’s to your health of mind and body for Saint Patrick’s day.

May all your troubles be little ones.

May your joys be fourfold.

And may you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead”.

 

Joe Fahy.