"431 AD - Saint Patrick was ordained bishop by the holy Pope, Celestine the First, who ordered him to go to Ireland, to preach and teach faith and piety to the Gaeidhil, and also to baptize them.
432 AD - Patrick came to Ireland this year, and proceeded to baptize and bless the Irish, men, women, sons, and daughters, except a few who did not consent to receive faith or baptism from him, as his Life relates. Ath Truim was founded by Patrick, it having been granted by Fedhlim, son of Laeghaire, son of Niall, to God and to him, Loman, and Fortchern.
Patrick's method of carrying the new faith to the Gaelic Celts was to meet them on the familiar ground of their own culture, the sacred groves, wells, and mounds, and making those places centers of worship for the new faith. He used the same holy places designated by the Druids of Ireland to establish his Christian churches and holy places.
The abbeys became centers of learning as well as churches, teaching his followers the essentials of reading and writing Greek and Latin, laying the foundation of Irish scholasticism that would make the Church in Ireland a repository of learning during the Dark Ages that were to come.
The new faith spread rapidly and by the 6th century, Ireland was a stronghold of the new faith, with newly built monasteries and abbeys."
page I found the above info...
http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/ihm/ire400.htm
Page I found above link.. also has great Irish folk lore stories etc.. also links to learn to speak Gaelic wiht some lesons linked on this page.
http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/
This web site has great pics, Recipes (My hubby is VERY IRISH I've learned to cook quite a few Irish meals), Irish Blessings, and lots of others Irish bits..
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/stpat/stpat.html
St. Patrick was a gentleman who through strategy and stealth drove all the snakes from Ireland heres a toasting to his health. But not too many toastings lest you loose yourself and then forget the good St. Patrick and see all those snakes again.
Slante!
Gina *BabyBlue*
