The story of Ireland's patron saint and the spread of Celtic Christianity.

In many ways Saint Patrick represents the bridge between pagan Ireland, with it's myths of gods and heroes and the later Christian literary tradition.

In this video I will sketch a rough hagiography of Saint Patrick and his conversion of the early medieval Irish chiefdoms.

Then I will tell the story of Ośin in the House of the Bells, where according to tradition, the stories of Finn McCool and the Fenian Cycle were passed on to early Celtic Christian scribes.

Then we will visit the sacred mountain called Croagh Patrick (otherwise known as The Reek) a pilgrimage site since Neolithic times, and where according to legend, Saint Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland.

Finally I would like to offer up a few thoughts on what this might mean for us today.

Happy St Paddy's day you lovely wee leprechauns!

Sláinte