Patron saint of Ireland. Born in Britain,
probably in S Wales, he was carried off by
pirates to six years' slavery in Antrim,
Ireland before escaping either to Britain or
Gaul - his poor Latin suggests the former -
to train as a missionary. He is variously
said to have landed again in Ireland 432 or
456, and his work was a vital factor in the
spread of Christian influence there. His
symbols are snakes and shamrocks; feast day
17 Mar. Patrick is credited with founding the
diocese of Armagh, of which he was bishop,
though this was probably the work of a `lost
apostle' (Palladius or Secundinus). Of his
writings only his Confessio and an Epistola
survive.