Mark this date in your diary - 17th March - it's St Patrick's Day. And if you don't do something to celebrate it in your local then you are missing a trick. And possibly lucrative extra income... But who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick
Little is known about him, but he was taken as a slave from his native Wales in Roman Britain, by Irish raiders at the age of 16. He was taken to Ireland where he lived for a further six years in captivity before escaping to a port returning to his family aboard a ship. In later life he entered the church, returned to Ireland where he was active as a Christian missionary, and became a bishop. Legend has it that he both drove snakes from Ireland, and used the shamrock to symbolise the holy trinity. St Patricks Day is celebrated in Ireland on the anniversary of his death on 17th March 461 AD (though the precise year is much disputed).
Happy St Patricks Day
Pour me a Guinness and grab me a leprechaun (and all those other daft racist stereotypes)- its that time of year again when we celebrate the culture and traditions of our brethren from the Emerald Isle. Whether it be Father Ted, or Daniel O'Donnell or even gap toothed smile of Shane McGowan, we love em all and this month celebrate the Irish.Whether you believe the saintly Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland or not (and we have our doubts), God bless and Happy St Patricks Day.
