EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND

Symbol representing Ireland that is linked to Christianity

Aer Lingus (shamrock)

National holiday

17th of March, commemorates the life of St. Patrick

Arrival of Christianity

In 431 AD

Pope Celestine I

Ordered Palladius to go to Ireland

The purpose of his journey

Was to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity

By the end of the 5th Century

Ireland was a Christian country

St. Patrick

Most famous Christian missionary to arrive in Ireland

He arrived

After Palladius, possibly as early as 432 AD

He left behind an important document

Confessio

He was born in

Bannaventa Berniae, Wales

In his Confessio, he told the story of how

He was kidnapped at 16 and brought to Ireland

Where he was

Enslaved and forced to work as a shepherd on Slieve Mish Mountain in Co. Antrim

Patrick escaped from Ireland

After several years of captivity

He developed

A deep Christian faith and went to study at the Monastery in Auxerre in France

Years later, he returned to Ireland

Firm in his belief that it was his duty to convert the Irish to Christianity

He died in

461 or 462 AD, having spent over 20 years preaching Christianity

He had conflicts with

Druids – the pagan priests whose religion he challenged

It is difficult to understand

Why Patrick’s mission was so successful as sources from this time are often rare and biased

Why were his missions so successful?

He knew the Irish language and he had a strong understanding of Irish culture and history