History of St. Patrick

A LITTLE IRISH LORE

l. Who was St. Patrick?

Saints preserve us, he was English!! Patrick, (A.D 385-461) was born in Britain and taken to Ireland as a slave. After he escaped, a vision told him to return and bring Christianity to the Irish. He is one of Ireland's patron saints, and patron saint of Nigeria.

2. Did he drive the snakes out of Ireland" No, Ireland an island never had snakes. Too bad Patrick didn't get to Nigeria.

3. Ireland has other saints?

The other Saints are Bridget, Columcille and maybe Kevin. That's why so many Irish kids are named Patrick, Bridget and Kevin. Not as many are named Columcille, but he brought Christianity back to Scotland, among other things.

4. Are the Irish and Scottish Related?"

The lands, only 10 sea miles apart, share Celtic ancestry, language, (Gaelic) music and customs. Irish kings ruled Scotland, which means "land of the Irish". For many centuries. The group known as "Scots-Irish" is descended from Scots who settled in the Irish province of Ulster and then came to America.

5. Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

The first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in New York City in 1779, led by Irish Protestant soldiers in the British army. Later, when American "nativists" challenged their patriotism, Irish Catholic immigrants showed their loyalty to America each St. Patrick's Day by marching their soldiers, policemen, fireman and politicians behind American flags. In Ireland St. Patrick's Day has always been more of a religious holiday. The Irish started holding March 17th parades only because U.S. tourists kept asking where the parade was.

6. Why do some Irish names start with "Mc" "Mac" and "O"?

The Irish were the first people to use hereditary surnames, starting with O'Clery in A.D 916. "Mc" and "Mac" (meaning son of) and "O" (grandson of) showed kinship in prominent clans such as the McMahons and O'Brian's. The English took those prefixes off some Irish surnames to make them less Irish.

Now you have had your St. Patrick Day history.

Marilyn Miller

PS I gleaned this information from the Milwaukee Journal.