see also U2 and Sheridan Le Fanu
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Saint Patrick Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the 17th. March is a national holiday in his honour. The story of Patrick is well-known. He was born early in 400 AD and lived around the Welsh coast. Captured by pirates, he was sold into slavery and looked after sheep and pigs for a farmer. Eventually he ran away, first returning to his family. He went on to study to become a priest and finally a bishop. On returning to Ireland in 432 AD, he used the 3 leafed shamrock to demonstrate the holy trinity to people, and so this is now the symbol of St. Patrick. Patrick died on 17th. March 461 AD after working in Ireland for 30 years converting the people, travelling around the country establishing churches and monasteries and preaching the gospels.
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Lisa
Ralph tells the story of St.Patrick
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St. Patrick being captured by Donna Stokes |
There was once a village on the west coast of Britain. The peace was broken as pirates came from the sea shouting loud war cries. They were warriors of Niall of the Nine Hostages coming from Ireland. They ran through the village killing people and burning houses. They took girls and boys back to their ship and set sail for Ireland. Among the young children was a young boy called Patrick. He was sixteen years of age. When the pirates reached Ireland they sold the children to rich farmers as slaves. Patrick was sold to a farmer called Milchiu who lived in Antrim. |
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St. Patrick returning to Ireland by Donna O'Flanagn |
Michiu sent Patrick out onto the slopes of Slieve Mis to mind his sheep. Patrick was homesick and lonely and when winter came he was often very cold. A lot of people spoke Irish, which Patrick didn't understand. The Irish were pagans who believed in gods and godesses of the Celtic legends, where as Patrick grew up to be a follower of Christ. Patrick sometimes prayed up to a hundred times a day. Often in winter Patrick got up before dawn to pray, even if it was snowing, raining or frosty. As years went by he learnt to speak the Irish language from people coming to talk to him on the hillside. Patrick spent six long years on Slieve Mis. Then one night when he was asleep he had a strange dream. He heard a voice telling him to run away from his master and return to his own country "Get up" said the voice "Your ship awaits you" Leaving Slieve Mis, Patrick made his way to the shore. There he found a ship waiting to set sail. At first the captain refused to let Patrick on, but then he said he could mind the hounds. After many adventures, Patrick found his family and lived happily at home for many years. |
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by Janice Byrne |
One night Patrick had
a dream in which he saw a man coming from Ireland carrying letters
for him. He heard the people saying to him "we ask you o holy
youth, to come and walk with us" Once more Patrick left his
family and went to France. There he studied for years and became
a priest. Later he became a bishop and with the permission of
Pope Celestine he returned to Ireland. Patrick opened his first
church in a small wooden barn at a place called Saul, near Downpatrick,
Co. Down. He decided to go to Tara to preach to Laoire, the
High King (Tara was the seat of the high kings of Ireland at
this time. It is in Co. Meath) Patrick lit a fire on the hill
of Slane. Th high king was filled with rage when he saw the
fire and sent his soldiers to find out who had lit the fire
and to bring them back to Tara at once. Patrick came to Tara.
The high king and his court were surprised that Patrick could
speak their language. They listened as he explained about the
shamrock and many of them converted to Christianity. Patrick
continued his missionary work all around Ireland, converting
people, building churches and monasteries for many years before
he died in 461 AD. |
St.
Patrick working as a Bishop
