The story of St Patrick's association with Slemish had more to do with later medieval power politics than it did with any verifiable written record.

And the tale of a one-man sweep through the Irish countryside converting all he came across is another myth which owes more to the writings of those who came after him, and the agendas they served.

Patrick never mentioned Slemish, or even Armagh, in his own words and in print comes across as a very different figure than that larger-than-life character created by his biographers.

He was rather more a humble and devout man who was faced with a tough set of circumstances.

The later political demands of the medieval period meant the story had to be spun to bolster the image of Armagh in Ireland; the pilgrimage at Slemish today is proof positive of the enduring power of the myth over the reality.