The man the world toasts every March 17 was born in the second half of the fourth century somewhere along the Roman road of Watling Street, the son of a Roman-British army officer and deacon called Calpornius, and scholars still argue over whether that places his birthplace in the lowlands of Scotland or in Wales. He arrived in Ireland at 16 as a captive, seized by pirates and set to herding sheep and pigs on Mount Slemish in Co. Antrim, and only took the name Patrick later, from the Latin Patricius, meaning nobleman.
We all think we know the true story of St. Patrick, the most famous patron saint in the world, but it turns out we don't even know his real name.
Meet Maewyn Succat, the son of a Roman-British officer and deacon who is thought to have been born in the village of Banna Vemta Burniae.
The man we know as Saint Patrick, aka Maewyn Succat, was born in the second half of the 4th century, so it is little wonder that the details of his life are a little sketchy, to say the least. So much so that even the year of his birth is up for debate, some scholars believe it was the year 373 and some 390.
Maewyn Succat
So the story goes that Maewyn Succat was born near a village called Banna Vemta Burniae, which was situated on the Roman road of Watling Street, which today is known as the A5 trunk road. However, where on this vast road it is not clear. Some believe Maewyn Succat was born in the lowlands of Scotland, and others say it was Wales, which was under Roman control at that time.
Saint Patrick's real name was probably Maewyn Succat. His father, Calpornius, was a Roman-British army officer and a deacon. Despite his father's involvement in the church, Maewyn Succat did not, at first, follow suit. He was not a believer. In fact, until the age of 16, his life was unexceptional.
The kidnapping
The tale goes that St. Patrick was kidnapped while he worked as a shepherd. He was taken by Irish pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland.
According to his autobiography Confessio, for the next six years, he was kept in prison in the north of the island of Ireland. Here he worked as a herdsman tending to sheep and pigs on Mount Slemish in County Antrim.
It was during this time that Maewyn Succat found religion. He believed that his kidnapping and enslavement were punishment for his lack of belief.
He spent a great deal of time in prayer. Eventually, he had a vision that saw him as a stowaway on a boat back to Britain. He soon escaped and was reunited with his family.
God's calling
Back in Britain and safe from his captors, Maewyn Succat had a vision that the people of Ireland were calling him back to minister to them about God. However, he did not feel prepared.
Maewyn Succat traveled to France, where he trained in a monastery, possibly under Saint Germain, the Bishop of Auxerre. He dedicated his life to learning.
Twelve years later, he returned to Irish shores as a Bishop, sent with the Pope's blessing.
Spreading the word of Christ in Ireland
Maewyn Succat or Saint Patrick, as he came to be known, from the Latin name Patricius, which meant "nobleman", landed at Strangford Loch, County Down.
While many credit him with bringing Christianity to Ireland, he was not the first to do so. And earlier, missionary Palladius had already come to preach to the Irish.
However, St. Patrick did meet with King Lóegaire, the High King of Ireland, to ask permission to preach Christianity. Of course, his mission did not always go smoothly. During his life and attempts at preaching, he had terms of imprisonment and generally upset local chieftains and druids, but he always won his freedom by presenting his captors with gifts.
For 20 years, St. Patrick traveled around Ireland baptizing people and establishing monasteries, schools, and churches. By the time of his death, believed to be March 17, 461 (or 493, depending on which scholars you side with), he had left and organized the Christian church in Ireland as his legacy.
And so every March 17, this is why Ireland, the Irish around the world, and those who love the Irish spirit, celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Happy Maewyn Succat Day!
Oh, and he's buried in Downpatrick, in County Down ... or in County Armagh.
*Originally published in February 2022. Updated in 2026.
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