Book Spotlight
him to France where he was trained in a monastery, possibly under St Germain, the
bishop of Auxerre, and he dedicated this period of his life to learning. It was some 12
years before he returned to Irish shores as a bishop sent with the Pope's blessing.
The next chapter of the history of St Patrick is better known than his earlier life. He
landed at Strangford Loch, Co. Down. Although he is often credited with having
brought Christianity to Ireland, he was not the first to have done so.
An earlier mission had seen Palladius preach to the Irish.
Of course, it wasn't all plain sailing. The history of St Patrick is littered with periods of
imprisonment when his teachings had upset local chieftains or Celtic Druids, but he
always escaped or gained freedom by presenting his captors with gifts.
For twenty years he travelled the length and breadth of the island, baptising people
and establishing monasteries, schools and churches as he went.
By the time he died, on 17 March 461 (or 493, depending on which date you started
your calculation), he left behind an organised church, the see of Armagh, and an is-
land of Christians. This date – 17 March – has been commemorated as St Patrick's Day
ever since.
He was buried either in Downpatrick, Co Down, or in Armagh.