Saint Patrick: Life, Legend and Legacy

An engaging and rich exploration of Saint Patrick and his extraordinary influence on the world.Forced into slavery at the age of fifteen, Patrick overcame all hardship to fulfil his calling: to bring the people of Ireland into the light of God's word. He carried out his mission of conversion and care at a crucial time of change, as Christianity spread across Romanised Europe and harnessed existing social structures and belief systems in Pagan Ireland.Patrick met high kings and mythical heroes, Celtic gods and goddesses, lowly farmers and loyal servants, and he left lasting marks upon the Irish landscape and way of life. He was humble, courageous and resourceful, and was the first of Ireland's saints to write down his experiences. Thus began the cult of Saint Patrick, galvanised over 1500 years of devotion and scholarship, and culminating recently in the cheerful 'greening' of the world's most famous landmarks.Drawing from recorded histories, 'tall tales' from all four provinces and beautiful illustrations, this is a light-hearted look at the global phenomenon of Saint Patrick, his life and his legacy, the facts and the fiction of his incredible journey from slave to international saint.Table of ContentsIntroduction page 09Patrick Q&A 13PART ONE: Ireland in Patrick’s Time 21PART TWO: Patrick’s Story 77PART THREE: Tall Tales from the Four Provinces 101Northern Light: Stories from Ulster 104Ends of the Earth: Stories from Connacht 122Valley of the Kings: Stories from Leinster 141From Myths to Monks: Stories from Munster 150PART FOUR: The Greening of the World 163Select Bibliography 195Illustrations 200Index of Place Names 201