Tradition has it that St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, explained the concept of the Trinity using a Shamrock and drove snakes from the land. In all likelihood St Patrick was a Roman brought up in northern England - although there are indications that he could have been born in either Wales or Scotland.
He is said to have first set foot in Ireland after being captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16. Pope Celestine is believed to have ordained Patrick and sent him, as the first bishop, to Ireland to spread the Christian word. In chapter 22 of Patrick's Confessio, he says that he passed over for elevation to the episcopate and a missionary post in Ireland. It is not known when Patrick became a bishop, or on whose authority, or indeed if his later work in Ireland was authorised by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. He may well have been one of the enthusiastic clergy who travelled without authority that we are told of in the 5th and 6th century texts collected under the title, Irish Penitentials by Ludwig Bieler. He is often said to be the first person to have introduced Christianity to Ireland. While this is not entirely true - other Christians had tried to convert the Irish - St Patrick did make the biggest impression. He succeeded in converting Ireland's warrior chiefs, princes and thousands of their subjects. Despite the massive impact he had on Ireland and other Celtic countries only two of his writings survive - his Confession and a letter to a Roman called Coroticus. | 
