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ABOUT ST. PATRICK Facts and legend are hard to separate, but he definitely wasn't Irish!

FACTS He was born around 373 in Banwen, Wales His real name was Maewyn Succat (renamed Patrick when he became a priest) He was kidnapped by pirates when he was 16 and sold as a slave in Ireland He worked as a shepherd for the 6 years he was a slave He escaped, went to France and became a priest He went back to Ireland to spread Christianity when he was about 60 years old LEGENDS St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland He met the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rights He converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and their subjects in the Holy Wells He died in 493 and was buried at Downpatrick, County Down His jaw bone was preserved in a silver shrine and used as protection against the evil eye A second legend says St. Patrick died at Glastonbury and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Galstonbury Abbey ERIN GO BRAUGH!