Perfect Patrick's Party!!

When we think of St Patrick's day what do we think of? A party, perhaps a pub outing? Well to

millions of people worldwide, it means so much more. Dating back to March 17th, 1762, people have

celebrated the story of the Patron Saint of Ireland.

So, who was St Patrick you ask. St Patrick was born in the 4th century in Roman Britain. He lived a

happy life with his mother and father who were very wealthy. However, one night, his estate was

raided by Irish bandits who kidnapped him and took him back to Ireland. He then lived for 6 years in

captivity working as a servant and a slave for the bandits. During his time of loneliness and pain, he

turned to religion and god for help. One night, he spoke to god, God had told him it was time to

leave Ireland. To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he

was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second

revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick

began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than 15 years. After his ordination as a

priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission: to minister to Christians already living in Ireland

and to begin to convert the Irish.

Despite the fascinating story, we do wonder how it affects others around the world. We often hear

questions such as, “Why is that American lake green?” and “What is so important about a guy who

died over 1500 years ago,” Most people wouldn’t be afraid to admit they don’t have a clue of what is

going on. Let’s start with America. Over 34.5 million citizens of the USA have an Irish ancestry. That’s

around 10.5% of the country. Every year, Chicago dye the Chicago River green in recognition of the

Irish culture that remains in the USA. Despite being connotated with remarks suggesting it wasn’t

real, it is important that we celebrate everybody’s opinion on religion and culture.

I was fortunate enough to speak to an Irish citizen called Sheila. Sheila has been a part of the

celebrations ever since she was growing up in the town of Port Arlington. She explained to me what

St Patricks day means to someone with her upbringing.

“What does St Patricks day mean to you?” I asked, she replied with, “He was a key figure in our lives

and my mother would always tell me he kept me safe by chasing all the snakes out of Ireland.” This

quote proved the different aspects from which this story was seen. I went on to ask er what would

she be doing if she was still in Port Arlington. She gave me more detail into her childhood

experiences. “There would be singing and dancing in the square and we would listen to the fantastic

Irish bands. We would do Irish dancing. Having the day off was also a bonus!” I finally questioned her

opinion on St Patricks day. She expressed how the thought brought back memories of hr time in

Ireland.

So, what will you be doing for St Patricks day? Whatever it is, make sure you stay safe and have fun

celebrating the Patron Saint of Ireland.

#GetInspired