ÓCH! SAINT PATRICK WASN'T IRISH!
For lo these many years, the world has had to live with the knowledge that Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, was not born in Ireland, but in Scotland. Humbled but never daunted, the Irish learned to accept that and have worshiped Saint Patrick as their patron Saint nonetheless. At minimum, for driving the snakes out Ireland.
For lo these many years, the world has had to live with the knowledge that Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, was not born in Ireland, but in Scotland. Humbled but never daunted, the Irish learned to accept that and have worshiped Saint Patrick as their patron Saint nonetheless. At minimum, for driving the snakes out Ireland.
 | "The snakes miracle" has always been in question because scientists archeologists claim there were never any snakes in Ireland. What is now Ireland separated from the continental mainland at the end of the ice age, and snakes never managed to make the swim, although parts of Scotland were within about eighteen miles from Ireland and most snakes are good swimmers. Was that not enough? Apparently not. THE THEORY OF THE TWO PATRICKS On March 20, 1942, Thomas Francis O'Rahilly (Irish: Tomás Ó Rathile) cast more doubts regarding Saint Patrick by announcing his scholarly “Theory of the Two Patricks.” |
O'Rahilly, an Irish scholar of Celtic languages from the University College in Dublin, wrote extensively on early Irish history and mythology. His most important contribution to Celtic linguistics is Irish Dialects Past and Present (1932, Dublin: Browne and Nolan) which remains in use to this day. O’Rahilly was latter appointed senior professor at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
Thomas O’Rahilly was no slouch in his field of research, so he rocked the boat, so to speak, by proposing that there were two missionaries to Ireland, both of whom went by many names including Patricius (Patrick) whose individual 30 years of service overlapped but encompassed about sixty years in the 5th century.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=photos%20of%20Thomas
He claimed both Patricks were Roman citizens and both had been sent to Ireland by different Popes, but only one of the Patricks wrote an autobiography -- “Patrick the Britton” -- whom we now honor on March 17.
The timing, combined with difficulties keeping accurate records of dates and events; led eventually to a medieval scribe who either implied or believed that there was only one missionary to Ireland named Patrick who died somewhere between 461 and 493 AD. Ultimately, O’Rahilly professed, this range became accepted as the possible death dates of “Patrick the Britton,” who was the better known of the two, and who received credit for all that was achieved by both him and the first missionary who was called Palladius.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=photos%20of%20Thomas
He claimed both Patricks were Roman citizens and both had been sent to Ireland by different Popes, but only one of the Patricks wrote an autobiography -- “Patrick the Britton” -- whom we now honor on March 17.
The timing, combined with difficulties keeping accurate records of dates and events; led eventually to a medieval scribe who either implied or believed that there was only one missionary to Ireland named Patrick who died somewhere between 461 and 493 AD. Ultimately, O’Rahilly professed, this range became accepted as the possible death dates of “Patrick the Britton,” who was the better known of the two, and who received credit for all that was achieved by both him and the first missionary who was called Palladius.
SAINT PALLADIUS (PATRICK), THE FIRST BISHOP OF IRELAND
Palladius (the first Patrick) was born in the Roman province of Gaul (modern-day France) in approximately 390 AD, the son of Exuperantius of Poitiers, a member of the one of the prominent families in Gaul.
There are records that he was married and had one daughter. Around 408/409 AD, he went to Sicily, put his daughter in a convent there, and lived as an ascetic. (Nowhere did I find a reference to a wife).
Image Source: https://www.brcblog.org/2019/07/saint-palladius.html
It appears that he was ordained as a priest around 415. He lived in Rome between 418–429, and is believed to be the "Deacon Palladius" who was responsible for urging Pope Celestine I to send Bishop Germanus to Britain to guide the Britons to the Catholic faith.
Pope Celestine sent Palladius to Britain with the mission of bringing some heretics back to Christianity. Then he was sent to Ireland as the first bishop of the Christians of Ireland and is recorded as arriving there about 432. He established his church in southern Ireland and proceeded to convert heretics throughout the provinces of Leinster and Munster. But Ireland was not the end of the line for Palladius. Irish writers of the lives of the Saints Patrick indicate that it didn’t take long before Palladius was banished by the king of Leinster.
From Ireland he returned the part of Britain known now as Scotland and was recognized as the first bishop of Scotland. Then he was sent to the northern part shown as Albann on the map, the land of the Picts. The Picts were known as being a wild and fierce people. They went into battle (frequently), their entire bodies painted blue and wearing no clothes.
There are records that he was married and had one daughter. Around 408/409 AD, he went to Sicily, put his daughter in a convent there, and lived as an ascetic. (Nowhere did I find a reference to a wife).
Image Source: https://www.brcblog.org/2019/07/saint-palladius.html
It appears that he was ordained as a priest around 415. He lived in Rome between 418–429, and is believed to be the "Deacon Palladius" who was responsible for urging Pope Celestine I to send Bishop Germanus to Britain to guide the Britons to the Catholic faith.
Pope Celestine sent Palladius to Britain with the mission of bringing some heretics back to Christianity. Then he was sent to Ireland as the first bishop of the Christians of Ireland and is recorded as arriving there about 432. He established his church in southern Ireland and proceeded to convert heretics throughout the provinces of Leinster and Munster. But Ireland was not the end of the line for Palladius. Irish writers of the lives of the Saints Patrick indicate that it didn’t take long before Palladius was banished by the king of Leinster.
From Ireland he returned the part of Britain known now as Scotland and was recognized as the first bishop of Scotland. Then he was sent to the northern part shown as Albann on the map, the land of the Picts. The Picts were known as being a wild and fierce people. They went into battle (frequently), their entire bodies painted blue and wearing no clothes.
He remained in Scotland until his death, and some sources say he met a martyr’s death, others claim he died outside of Aberdeen in about 450 AD.
According to the authors of an article on https://www.electricscotland.com/, Palladius is buried in the village of Fordun which is situated on a spur of the Grampians, looking sweetly down on the well cultivated plains of the Mearns. The church of Fordun is claimed to hold records corroborating this.
Historical Map- Celtic Britain in the 6th Century-Image Source: https://www.angelfire.com/mac/cambel/500_hist/5_hist_celtic550ad.html
SAINT PATRICK, THE SECOND BISHOP OF IRELAND
According to the authors of an article on https://www.electricscotland.com/, Palladius is buried in the village of Fordun which is situated on a spur of the Grampians, looking sweetly down on the well cultivated plains of the Mearns. The church of Fordun is claimed to hold records corroborating this.
Historical Map- Celtic Britain in the 6th Century-Image Source: https://www.angelfire.com/mac/cambel/500_hist/5_hist_celtic550ad.html
SAINT PATRICK, THE SECOND BISHOP OF IRELAND
“Patrick the Briton” is better documented than Palladius. This Patrick was born in Roman Britain, near Dumbarton, Scotland, in the year 387. His father, Calphurnius was a deacon from a Roman family of high standing, and his mother, Conchessa, was a close relative of St. Martin of Tours. Patrick's grandfather, Pontius, was also a member of the clergy, but in his aristocratic youth Patrick was not an active believer in Christianity.
Image Source: https://www.Saint Patrick: Man or myth? - BBC Bitesize
He beat Palladius to Ireland, but not as a missionary. He was captured at the age of 16 by Irish raiders pillaging the west coast of Britain, by then a land no longer protected by the rapidly dissolving Roman Empire.
Image Source: https://www.Saint Patrick: Man or myth? - BBC Bitesize
He beat Palladius to Ireland, but not as a missionary. He was captured at the age of 16 by Irish raiders pillaging the west coast of Britain, by then a land no longer protected by the rapidly dissolving Roman Empire.
| He was taken to Ireland where he was enslaved for six years near Slemish, County Antrim. (Other scholars claim he was taken to County Mayo near Killala.) Where ever he was held, he worked as a shepherd. Alone and afraid, he turned to his religion for comfort and direction. It was then he became a deeply devoted Christian. |  Slemish County - Image Source: http://goaheadItours.c om |
Apparently Patrick had visions and, in one, he saw the children of pagan Ireland reaching out their hands to him. This led him to the determination that he should free them from Druidism and convert them to Christianity. In around 408, he dreamed a voice told him he would soon go home; then, in a later vision, the voices said his ship was ready. Apparently it was, and he eventually escaped but vowed to return to Ireland and bring the gospel of Christ to the people he had come to love.
Patrick began studying for the priesthood in Auxerre, France, and was ordained four years later. Later in life, he was ordained a bishop and still held on to the desire to bring Christianity to Ireland. Around 461, at the same time that Palladius’s days either had drawn or were drawing to a close, Pope St. Celestine I consecrated St. Patrick as Bishop of the Irish, then sent him to Ireland to spread the faith.
The latter Patrick’s mission concentrated on the north and west of Ireland, in Ulster and Connacht, places Palladius had not touched. He died in 493 A.D, according to no less of an authority than St. Colmcille, and is buried in Downpatrick, in Ulster.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THEORY?
Professor O'Rahilly became known for his theory which was characterized as the person we knew and loved called Saint Patrick was actually an amalgam of a number of holy men who live more or less contemporaneously. This resulted in both consternation and amusement among scholars and holy men concerned with the subject.
Patrick began studying for the priesthood in Auxerre, France, and was ordained four years later. Later in life, he was ordained a bishop and still held on to the desire to bring Christianity to Ireland. Around 461, at the same time that Palladius’s days either had drawn or were drawing to a close, Pope St. Celestine I consecrated St. Patrick as Bishop of the Irish, then sent him to Ireland to spread the faith.
The latter Patrick’s mission concentrated on the north and west of Ireland, in Ulster and Connacht, places Palladius had not touched. He died in 493 A.D, according to no less of an authority than St. Colmcille, and is buried in Downpatrick, in Ulster.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THEORY?
Professor O'Rahilly became known for his theory which was characterized as the person we knew and loved called Saint Patrick was actually an amalgam of a number of holy men who live more or less contemporaneously. This resulted in both consternation and amusement among scholars and holy men concerned with the subject.
Writer Flann O’brien saw the amusing side of the controversy and wrote in his Irish Times column jesting that O’Rahilly had “so far proved that there was no God and two St. Patricks.” O’Rahilly didn’t think that was funny, and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies sued for libel. The Institute prevailed and was awarded damages in the sum of 20 British pounds, half of which was never paid. https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-two-st-patricks,
Flann O’Brien - Image Source: writerswrite.co.za/flann-obrien/
None-the-less, the publication of the theory started an academic civil war, which still rages.
O'Brien wrote:
“If the careers of the two Patricks, through scholarly bungling, had become inextricably entangled, who did what? And worse still-which of them was the patron saint? If you addressed a prayer to one, might it not be delivered by mistake to the other? There was a feeling abroad that any concession to the two Patricks theory would lead unfailingly to a theory of no Patrick.” https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-solution-to-the-two-st-patricks-theory/
No Saint Patrick!? That would be the final blow.
CONCLUSION
To the extent that there is a conclusion, the first is “There is no hard and fast answer.” The historical evidence and documentation available is quite limited. What exists has been so dissected and re-dissected in genuine attempts to find the truth that it has become extremely interwoven and confused. It is generally accepted now by most historians that Palladius was the first Bishop of Ireland.
The second conclusion is that Saint Patrick and his status a Patron Saint of Ireland is extremely important to the Irish and, in general, the beliefs and celebrations of the Irish at home and abroad, remain unchanged by academia and theories.
JUST SAYIN'
ABÚ (Hurrah for) SAINT PATRICK and HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.
□
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick
http://st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.html
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/legend-of-Saint-Patrick.html
http://www.biography.com/people/st-patrick-9434729
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/shamrock-plant.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladius_(bishop_of_Ireland)
https://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/religious-studies-and-philosophy/critically-assess-the-view-that-the-two-patrick-theory-solves-the-puzzle-of-patrick.html#:~:text=Critically%20assess%20the%20view%20that%20the%20two%20Patrick,contained%20to%2
https://www.theexaminernews.com/a-tale-of-two-patricks-but-who-was-first/
https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-two-st-patricks
https://www.academia.edu/11900877/THE_TWO_PATRICKS
https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-solution-to-the-two-st-patricks-theory/
https://www.edmaps.com/html/british_isles.html
https://www.uni-due.de/DI/DI_Portraits.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFlZcAkqn9E
https://members.tripod.com/~Hal_MacGregor/gregor/Chronicles.html
https://travel.sygic.com/en/poi/slemish-poi:3652586
https://fiveminutehistory.com/the-top-3-most-beautiful-cathedrals-built-in-honor-of-st-patrick/
https://www.writerswrite.co.za/literary-birthday-5-october-flann-obrien/
https://www.lane1photos.com/Archives/2015/St-Patricks-Day-Parade/i-mBGJhgn/
https://www.thrillist.com/events/philadelphia/st-patricks-day-parade-in-philadelphia
https://dailyhive.com/montreal/st-patrick-day-parade-return
http://thelistlove.com/10-amazing-st-patricks-day-facts
tps://www.sacredhearthook.org/st-patrick
https://blog1.hawaiianislandweddings.com/2015/03/why-you-are-wrong-about-st-patricks-day.html
https://www.yourirish.com/history/christianity/palladius#:~:text=After%20a%20short%20while%2C%20Palladius%20was%20banished%20from,Scotland%20where%20he%20landed%20at%20the%20Orkney%20Islands.
https://www.electricscotland.com/history/wylie/vol2ch8.htm#:~:text=History%20Of%20The%20Scottish%20Nation%20Vol%202%2C%20Chapter,in%20Ireland.%20Dies%20and%20is%20buried%20at%20Fordun
Flann O’Brien - Image Source: writerswrite.co.za/flann-obrien/
None-the-less, the publication of the theory started an academic civil war, which still rages.
O'Brien wrote:
“If the careers of the two Patricks, through scholarly bungling, had become inextricably entangled, who did what? And worse still-which of them was the patron saint? If you addressed a prayer to one, might it not be delivered by mistake to the other? There was a feeling abroad that any concession to the two Patricks theory would lead unfailingly to a theory of no Patrick.” https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-solution-to-the-two-st-patricks-theory/
No Saint Patrick!? That would be the final blow.
CONCLUSION
To the extent that there is a conclusion, the first is “There is no hard and fast answer.” The historical evidence and documentation available is quite limited. What exists has been so dissected and re-dissected in genuine attempts to find the truth that it has become extremely interwoven and confused. It is generally accepted now by most historians that Palladius was the first Bishop of Ireland.
The second conclusion is that Saint Patrick and his status a Patron Saint of Ireland is extremely important to the Irish and, in general, the beliefs and celebrations of the Irish at home and abroad, remain unchanged by academia and theories.
JUST SAYIN'
ABÚ (Hurrah for) SAINT PATRICK and HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.
□
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick
http://st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.html
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/legend-of-Saint-Patrick.html
http://www.biography.com/people/st-patrick-9434729
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/shamrock-plant.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladius_(bishop_of_Ireland)
https://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/religious-studies-and-philosophy/critically-assess-the-view-that-the-two-patrick-theory-solves-the-puzzle-of-patrick.html#:~:text=Critically%20assess%20the%20view%20that%20the%20two%20Patrick,contained%20to%2
https://www.theexaminernews.com/a-tale-of-two-patricks-but-who-was-first/
https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-two-st-patricks
https://www.academia.edu/11900877/THE_TWO_PATRICKS
https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-solution-to-the-two-st-patricks-theory/
https://www.edmaps.com/html/british_isles.html
https://www.uni-due.de/DI/DI_Portraits.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFlZcAkqn9E
https://members.tripod.com/~Hal_MacGregor/gregor/Chronicles.html
https://travel.sygic.com/en/poi/slemish-poi:3652586
https://fiveminutehistory.com/the-top-3-most-beautiful-cathedrals-built-in-honor-of-st-patrick/
https://www.writerswrite.co.za/literary-birthday-5-october-flann-obrien/
https://www.lane1photos.com/Archives/2015/St-Patricks-Day-Parade/i-mBGJhgn/
https://www.thrillist.com/events/philadelphia/st-patricks-day-parade-in-philadelphia
https://dailyhive.com/montreal/st-patrick-day-parade-return
http://thelistlove.com/10-amazing-st-patricks-day-facts
tps://www.sacredhearthook.org/st-patrick
https://blog1.hawaiianislandweddings.com/2015/03/why-you-are-wrong-about-st-patricks-day.html
https://www.yourirish.com/history/christianity/palladius#:~:text=After%20a%20short%20while%2C%20Palladius%20was%20banished%20from,Scotland%20where%20he%20landed%20at%20the%20Orkney%20Islands.
https://www.electricscotland.com/history/wylie/vol2ch8.htm#:~:text=History%20Of%20The%20Scottish%20Nation%20Vol%202%2C%20Chapter,in%20Ireland.%20Dies%20and%20is%20buried%20at%20Fordun
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