We know nothing certain as to either the place or the year of St. Patrick’s birth. It probably took place in the year 387, either at Dumbarton in Britain or Boulogne in Gaul. His parents appear to have been ” provincialised ” Celts, his father holding a minor official position in the Roman administration or Civil Service. In baptism the future saint received the name of Succat. At the age of sixteen he was taken prisoner in one of the many raids of the ” Scots,” and was carried as a slave to Dal-riada,-)- the northern part of Ulaidh. There he spent six years of hardship and privation tending the sheep of his master, Milchu, on the slopes of Sliabh Mis (Slemish). At length he left his place of slavery—instructed, we are told, in a vision—and after travelling two hundred miles, got passage on board a ship which brought him to Gaul.

*Tir na n-Og, Magh Mell, Ui Breasail. f The northern half 0/ County Anttim.

    A period of no less than twenty-three years elapsed before St. Patrick returned to Ireland as its Apostle. Some even say that the interval extended over forty years. Of his life during that time, in an empire which was breaking up under the blows of Teuton and Celt, we know little. But most of it was spent in preparing for the great project which he had formed of carrying the light of Christianity to the island of his captivity. He maintained the knowledge of its language and customs which he had acquired in slavery. He prepared himself for his mission by earnest study first under St. Martin of Tours, then under St. Germanus of Auxerre, who ordained him priest, and afterwards at a famous monastery on the small island of Lerin in the Mediterranean. When news came of the death of Palladius, he was consecrated bishop, and with the apostolic blessing of Pope Celestine (who is said to have given him his name of Patrick or Palricius), he proceeded on his great mission for the conversion of Ireland, a.d. 432.

    Reaching the shores of Ireland, Patrick coasted northwards, touching first at the mouth of the river Vartry and next at Holmpatrick, near Skerries. Then sailing into Loch Cuan (Strangford Lough), he landed on the coast oiDal-araidhe* or Southern Ulaidh. Here he celebrated his first Mass in Ireland in a barn at Saul (SadaU, a barn), and converted Dichu, the chief of the district. An attempt to persuade his old master, Milchu, was, however, unsuccessful, the determined pagan chief destroying himself rather than be convinced by his former slave.

    Acting upon a policy which he pursued through­out his mission, Patrick now determined to carry his gospel to the greatest centre of authority in the island. This was Tara, where Laoghaire, the son of the great Niall, was now King. Sailing back along the coast, the apostle entered the mouth of the Boyne, and proceeded alon^ the bank of that river until he came to Slane. Here on the northern bank rises a hill high enough to command the level country around. It was a spot surrounded by the great sites cf Pagan tradition. A few miles down the valley was Brugh na Bourne, the dwelling place of the gods and the burial place of the Kings : inland was Taillte, where the festival instituted by the demi-god Lugh was still celebrated : beyond the river the plains of Meath rolled gently up to a smooth hill, which was Tara. On the summit of the Hill of Slane, St. Patrick boldly lighted the paschal fire on the evening of Easter Saturday, 433, and the challenge of Christianity blazed out over the country.

* The modern County Down and part of Antrim.

    Upon that very evening, Laoghaire, the Ard Rf, was preparing for a great festival at Tara—probably the celebration of his own birth­day. It was to be celebrated with many pagan rites, one of which was the kindling of a great fire by the hands of the King. Any other fire was unlawful until the fire of Tara shone forth. Great, therefore, was the indignation of the King, his druids, and courtiers when from the hill across the Boyne arose the flames of Patrick’s fire. Laoghaire commanded the culprit to be brought before him, with the result that a meeting was arranged for the next day. On Easter Sunday, therefore, St. Patrick and his attendants crossed to Tara, and there expounded the doctrines of Christianity to the assembled court. Many were converted, amongst them some druids and relatives of the King. Laoghaire himself remained pagan, but was so much impressed as to allow Patrick to continue his mission unmolested.

    The apostle now proceeded on a systematic progress through the length and breadth of Ireland. In its course he pursued that settled policy which had brought him to the seat of the Ard Ri at Tara. In every district that he entered he first approached the chief seat of authority, and having converted the Kings and chiefs, he found little difficulty in persuading the people to follow their example. Accordingly we find him visiting the seats of the Kings of the seven Kingdoms which had now been permanently established.

    During his labours in Meath he visited the great festival at Taillte, and there converted large numbers. Here, as well as at Tara, he probably won over many from all parts of the country, who afterwards assisted him in his mission in their own territories.

Having spent three years in the territories of Meath, Patrick now pro­ceeded West. On his way he destroyed the idol of Crom Cruach at Magh Sleacht. Crossing the upper Shannon, he visited Cruachan, where he converted, amongst others, the two daughters of the King. Thence he travelled to the northern coast of the province, where he converted the descendants of Fiachra. Seven years he spent amongst the tribes of Connacht. It was during this time that he retired for penance and prayer for an entire Lent to the summit of the mountain now known as CjmiaC •pA’OttAis (Croagh Patrick).

    His work amongst the clans of the West accomplished, Patrick now turned to the Kingdoms of the North. Travelling along the coast, he made his way to Aileach, where he converted the Kings of the Northern Ui Neill, and the clans over whom they ruled. Next he visited the Oirghialla, and at Clogher consecrated a bishop to minister to them. Proceeding eastwards, he again entered Ulaidh, whose Kings at that time had their chief seat near the present Downpatrick, not far from Saul, the scene of his first Mass.

Having preached the Gospel to the clans of all the Kingdoms of heath Chuinn, the apostle returned to Tara.

    Patrick had now planted the seed throughout the Kingdoms ruled by the posterity of Conn and in the Kingdom still ruled by the Clanna Rury. The Kingdoms of Cahir M6r and of Eoghan in the South yet remained.

    Across the plains of the Liffey, Patrick came to Naas, then the chief seat of the northern branch of the descendants of Cahir M6r. Next he visited the southern branch in their district of Ui Cinnsealaigh, and the tribes of Laoighis. Lying between the two Kingdoms lay Ossraidhe, and there the saint made many converts.

    Next he approached Caiseal, the recently established seat of the Kings of the clans of Munster. Aongus, afterwards King of Caiseal, was converted and became the warm adherent of Christianity. In Munster, as in Connacht, Patrick spent seven years, visiting all the territories south of the Shannon.

    On many occasions Patrick’s life had been in danger, and another attack was made upon him when returning from Munster. This time the saint was saved only by the self-sacrifice of his chariotier, Odran, who fell, the only martyr in the conversion of Ireland.

    Patrick had now preached to all the clans of Eire. In all parts of the country, churches had been founded and priests ordained ; numerous bishops had already been consecrated. It was now desirable to complete the work by the creation of a See which would be the head of the Christian Church in Ireland. As a site for this Metropolitan See, which was to be ruled by himself and his successors, St. Patrick erected the church of Armagh, a.d. 455.

    Armagh was situated close to Eamhain Macha, the ancient palact of the Clanna Rury. Although now in the possession of thft Oirghialla for over a century, it was near the frontiers of Ulaidh, whos« people must still have longed to regain the seat of their great traditions. By devoting the district to the purposes of the Church, St. Patrick removed a cause of jealousy, and established his Primatial See in what was practically neutral territory.

    Having laboured on his mission for thirty-three years, St. Patrick died at Saul on the 17th of March, a.d. 465,* and was buried at Downpatrick.

⁵ Some say not till A.D. 493.