Ireland and the diaspora · March 17, 2026

St Patrick's Day

March 17 — the feast of the patron saint of Ireland.

What happened

Patrick was not Irish. He was a Romano-Briton, taken to Ireland as a captive as a teenager, who escaped and later returned as a missionary. Two short writings of his survive, including the Confessio, which is one of the earliest first-person accounts to come out of the British Isles. The shamrock story — using its three leaves to explain the Trinity — is traditional rather than documented.

Why it stuck

The best-known fact about him, that he drove out the snakes, is not true: post-glacial Ireland never had them. Separating the man from the parade is a good afternoon's work.

What a family can do

Green, obviously. But read one paragraph of the Confessio and notice it is a real person writing.

Questions to work through

1. Patrick was not born in Ireland. Where was he from, and how did he get there?
2. Ireland has no native snakes. Find the real reason.
3. Which parts of the St Patrick story are documented and which are traditional? Make two lists.