Introduction of Christianity Into Ireland
Above: Christianity introduced into Ireland
It would be difficult, if it were necessary to assign a definite date to the introduction of Christianity into Ireland. Story of Conchubhar mac Neasa rushing into the wood of Lamhraighe on head! of our Saviour’s Crucifixion, and fell the trees, as though they were Jews, widely known. Another of our era tragedies describes Cuchulainn, after his lamented death, as floating in his spirit chariot over Eamhain Macha and chanting " a magic so~ of the coming of Christ and the Day of Doom." Corm mac Airt, not content with declining to worship the Gold Calf moulded by his own artificer, refused to be buried att Pagan cemetery of Brugh na Boinne and was, instead, buried at Ros na Riogh, afterwards blessed by Columcille. Whate’ historical basis there may be for such records,1 continu through the Fiana period, no one can seriously doubt th Christianity had got a foothold in Ireland before Saint Patric’ coming, and was preached, either previously or concurrently, Diaghlan, Ciaran, Iobhar, Ailbe and others. Iserninus, wh original name was Fith, and native place southern Irelan was ordained with Patrick at Auxerre; and Patrick himself, seems manifest, regarded the greater part of the south ar south-west, where traces of early ecclesiastical foundation abound, as in no urgent need of his presence or person attention.
The place of Patrick‘s birth is still a subject of perennial controversy: the neighbourhood of the Severn and the neighborhood of the Clyde have long had their claims to his nativity urged with almost equal earnestness, while recently a claim has been forcefully advanced on behalf of the neighborhood of the Tiber.1 He was first brought to Ireland in bondage in the course of those maritime expeditions in which Niall of the Nine Hostages and other Irish kings of that period indulged. Having spent about seven years in the service of an Irish chieftain, he escaped and—as appears from the most careful investigations—found his way to Gaul and Italy, eventually returning to Britain. Then it was he felt called back to Ireland, to the children near the wood of Fochlad by the western sea. So he again set out for Gaul and, to fit himself for the mission to him foreshown, studied long and diligently at Auxerre, principally under Germanus. After all his anxious years, however, Celestine, determining in 431 to send a bishop to the Scots believing in Christ, chose and consecrated therefor not Patrick but Palladius. Tigroney,2 Ceall Fine near Dunlavin, and Donard, all in Wicklow, are regarded as scenes of the early labours of Palladius, whose mission came to a close within a year. Thus unexpectedly came Patrick‘s turn.
