There are so many legends about Patrick that many people can be forgiven for thinking he was a mythological character, but he was as real as the next person. His own writings survive still and they are the earliest records of a slave in the time of the Roman empire. If that is not impressive enough he is also the first person in history that we know actually existed in Ireland. Yet, he wasn't Irish. He started off as a slave in the west, but he pointed his boat in the direction of the Boyne Valley when he made the return visit. Dublin at this time was only a twinkling in the eye of some distant Vikings, so he headed for Colpe at the mouth of the Boyne. The Boyne allowed Patrick to progress into the heart of the land and also to make his mark on a few of the main power centres in the country. Tara, as a royal site, was top of his list. Although there is no definite record of him ever actually being on the hill, there are plenty of stories about Tara coming to him. Apparently, the druids were expecting this crazy new preacher and they feared that their time as the spiritual teachers of the people was coming to an end. When Patrick lit the Easter fire on a hilltop in the Boyne Valley (probably Knowth or Slane) to herald the birth of the new god, this was in direct opposition to the political custom of the time and he knew that it would be like a slap in the face to Tara. An almighty row started with druids directing thunderbolts and all sorts of weird magic at him. This was no bother to Patrick and he eventually wiped out everyone who refused to kneel before him. It was like a Jedi Knight taking on a load of Sith Lords and kicking ass. This was also where he first used the shamrock to demonstrate the trinity. At least that is the way his 7th century biographer-monk described it. This is the problem with Patricks' story. He had the early medieval equivalent of a facebook page bigging up every move that he made. The truth was probably a bit more mundane.
Patrick was a practical man. The Roman church had already sent a bishop to Ireland to tend to the scattered Christians but Palladius had not left much of a mark apart from a few references in ecclesiastical records. Early medieval society was extremely hierarchical and segmented and Patrick needed to get his foot in the door of the Tuath tribal system because they controlled the people. He needed the protection and influence of the Tuath kings and the Boyne Valley was a hotspot for them. If he could convert the kings, the rest would follow suit. It was trickle-down religion, although he also made a point of converting slaves and low born. He sent his nephew Lomman upriver to convert Fedelmid, the king at the crossing point there. This community became the town of Trim. The Cathedral Church of St Patrick there stands on the site of the early church which rivals Armagh as the oldest Patrician church in Ireland. This focus on creating communities was influenced by his time spent in the new monasteries in France and this is seen as the start of the so-called proto-towns in Ireland.
Patrick was not expected to have much success and in his lifetime he did not view himself as being successful. Ireland was considered at best, the edge of the known world, and at worst, the entrance to hell (Lough Derg in Donegal). His family and friends were not impressed with his mission. There were plenty of easier gigs for a churchman at the time. Todays' equivalent would be to volunteer to go to Mars. He spent most of his time trying to stop his newly christianised people from being killed by raiders and it pained him that Briton traders did the most damage because they did not view Patricks' converts as being worthy. He was successful because he knew the language and he incorporated the pagan religion into Christianity. He would have been well aware that the people worshipped the Boyne as a living god so he used the river for baptism because it involved full immersion back then. He also used the natural springs and wells in the valley and they would have had spiritual associations from pre-Christian times. There are numerous St Patricks' Wells in the Boyne Valley and they all claim a connection from his travels throughout the county.
The communities did flourish, although not quite as rapidly as his social media marketeers would lead you to believe. We know from the archaeology of burials throughout the Boyne Valley that Christianity was a gradual process. Still, within the space of two generations, Ireland was sending monks back out into Europe who transformed the religion. Over 1500 years later his name is trending worldwide every March 17. Not bad for a visitor.
References
Meath
Irelandnow
Pilgrimagemedievalireland
Voxhiberionacum
Askaboutireland
Image Credits
http://ansionnachfionn.com/2012/06/25/irish-national-heritage-park-no-irish/
http://sothl.com/
