Who was St. Patrick?

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in the 19th century in Wales. His father was a noble man and a deacon to the church. Patrick was abducted when he was 16 and brought to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. He worked as a shepherd on Slemish Mountain in County Antrim for 6 years until one night an angel came to him in a dream told him that his boat was waiting for him. With that he left and ran 200 miles to a boat.

He travelled to Britain and then to France where he spent 20 years as a monk in Marmoutier Abbey. He then received a celestial visitation in a dream telling him to return to the land that had enslaved him, although now he was to return on a mission, to enslave and to convert.Patrick and 24 of his follower arrived in Ireland. Patrick decided to talk to the High King because if he was the most powerful man in Ireland. Patrick spoke to King Laoghaire. While he was there he plucked a shamrock from the ground and tried to explain the to the druids and the King that the shamrock had three leaves just like God had three personas - The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost. This was called the Trinity. King Laoghaire was very impressed and chose to accept Christianity. He also gave Patrick the freedom to spread Christianity throughout Ireland.

Patrick is thought to have died on the 17th of March sometime between 463AB and 493AD. There is a dispute as to his place of burial; the site with the strongest claim seems to be Down Cathedral, where a large slab of rock on which the word Patrick is inscribed protects 'the grave' of St Patrick.

Also did you know that:
According to legend Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, however snakes are the symbol of Paganism, Patrick rid Ireland of Pagans.
The Book of Armagh included a note directing all monasteries and churches in Ireland to honour the memory of the saint by 'the celebration, during three days and three nights in mid-spring.
Patrick was called to Rome in 432 whereupon Pope Celestine bequeathed the honour of Bishop upon him before he left on his holy mission to Ireland
The veneration in which the Irish have held St Patrick is evidenced by the salutation, still common today, 'May God, Mary and Patrick bless you'.
Homage to Patrick as Ireland’s saint was apparent in the eight century AD. At this time Patrick's status of national apostle was made independently of Rome.
Patrick was claimed locally as a saint before the practice of canonisation was introduced by the Vatican