There's more to St Patrick than first thought

Who better to write an article on Saint Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, 17 March) celebrations than our reporter Sean Cunningham. His grandmother was born in Raholp, County Down, Northern Ireland, literally only a stone’s throw from the place where St Patrick landed on the Erin Isle. His father lived only a few kilometres from Down Cathedral, the site where Ireland’s national saint is reputedly buried. Irish eyes will be smiling around the region when green garments will be the order of the day as part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Spirit FM 91.1 usually conducts a fundraiser at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on St Patrick’s Day, however none has been planned this year. One of the fundraiser’s organisers, Sue Ruffles, confirmed the event will pause in 2026. “We didn’t go ahead this year as the functions person left 'the Exies' and I was very dependent on her to help me pull it all together,” she said. “We will do a trivia at some point, but nothing is planned in the near future.” People throughout the world, with or without an Irish background, celebrate Ireland’s national saint’s special day, however, many are unaware of his origins. Many people associate St Patrick with driving all the snakes out of Ireland, but there is much more to Ireland’s patron saint. The man behind the fun on Saint Patrick’s Day, Patrick, was reported to be born in Britain, to a high-ranking Roman family. St Patrick was believed to have been captured by marauders and sold as a teenage slave. A shepherd for six years while in captivity, he studied and turned to religion during troubled times. Escaping slavery, St Patrick spent some time in Europe studying religion, before returning to Ireland as a missionary, determined to convert Ireland to Christianity. On his return to the Emerald Isle, he arrived at the mouth of the River Slaney, County Down, Northern Ireland. He travelled throughout the country, establishing monasteries, churches and schools throughout the land. On St Patrick’s Day, pilgrims trek to Slieve Patrick, Saul, County Down, where St Patrick built his first church. It’s also the place where a huge monument of the saint dominates the countryside and is seen from many kilometres away. St Patrick’s Day has been commemorated since his death, which is believed to have been at Saul on 17 March, sometime in the fifth century. St Patrick’s remains, marked by a large solid stone, have been buried in the grounds of Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. In modern days, St Patrick’s Day, which was originally a Catholic holy day, has developed into more of a secular holiday. St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Australia and across the globe, offer people of Irish background the chance to meet and reminisce about their native land.

There's more to St Patrick than first thought

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