St Patrick
St Patrick, (c. 389-461 AD). Patron saint of Ireland. Patrick is believed to have been born in Wales. At 16 he was captured by a group of pirates who took him to Ireland as a slave. After six years he escaped, probably to Britain, but later returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. Although opposed by the druids, he succeeded in converting many people and is believed to have founded the diocese of Armagh (c. 444), which be-came the centre of Irish Christianity. His feast day is 17 March.
