Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1905-03-18
Found Irish by No Means Unen-
lightened Though Pagan
in 432.
Easv tn Trace the Works of the
Saint From Authentic
Sources.
HIS BIRTHPLACE STILL IN DISPUTE

AS early as the nintu CentuiJ eHN O
place of st. Patrick was a subject OF
doubt and discussion, and 1t is still a
debatable question. Claims have been
nut forward on behalf of France, Scot
land. South Britain and Spain. very
learned and ingenious arguments have
been advanced by distinguished writers
in support of each. More has been writ
ten about St. Patrick than any other
saint, aud the legendary travels OF the
apostle of Ireland are always subject OF
interest. as much in this year OF our
Lord, 1905, as they ever were before.
When our national apostle came to
ireland, about the year 432, he found the
nation pagan, and after sixty years spent
in preaching and disciplining the people
in religion and morality he left them
Christians. They remain so to this day.
St. Patrick found the Irish by no means
unenlightened. They had for that day
and time attained a remarkable degree
of culture. The laws of ancient Ireland
now being carefully studied by the
learned, show high degree OF civiliza-
ton. Their kings and chiefs had come
into contact with Roman civilization and
had made incursions into Scotland and
England and even into Gaui.
Early Irish annals speak OF the incur
sions of the Irish chiefs into Britain and
Gaul, where it is fair to assume they
gained a knowledge of Christianity
Some of the captives they brought
home with them were most likely Chris
tians. St. Prosper in his chronicle,
written about 434, says that Railadius.
the Roman deacon, was sent by Pope
Celestine in All ito the Scots Irish be-
lieying in Christ" While the ancient
Irish did not worship God, their form OF
paeanism was not so dark as that OF some
other nations. They worshipped the sum-
moon, the storm and the tempest, instead
OF idols. The mission of Palladius among
the Irish was not a success. 1t remained
for ST. Patrick to convert the nation. He
had spent six years as a captive among
the people aud during these years learned
their language, beside becoming &C.
quainted with their habits, prejudices and
customs. He had acquired his intellec-
tual and religious training under st.
Martin of Tours aud others and was
we'll equipped for the work before him.
He had tact. He turned his knowledge
of the people to the best OF account and
did not attempt at once to ruthlessly
make war on the pagan customs he
found. He rooted out what could not be
reconciled with the spirit OF Christianity,
and absorbed that which could be en-
grated in the new faith. Knowing that the
people had great respect for authority
he first went to the prince or chieftain in
the district, knowing that If he secured
him the clan was sure to follow.
Notwithstanding the lapse OF time the
records of St. Patrick's labors are perma'
nently fixed. 1t is almost universally
agreed that he fixed his See at Armagh
about the year Ais, and previous to that
time had spent about seven years IN Con-
naught. He built church and monas
terry at Assaroe, at the mouth OF the
Erne. He next passes into the Tir-Conail
and T;r-Eoghan. He visits Aileach. the
fortress and castle of Mall. He blesses
Eoghau and his two sons and their peo-
pie. He breaches and Pounds churches
as he goes along the northern portion OF
the island, the ancient territory named
Cianachta. He passes across the Bann,
blesses its waters and renders 1t abundant
in fish, then into Dal-Riada and Dali
Arabia, the modern counties of Antrim
and Down. He returns on his journey,
having traversed these regions in all di-
rections, and having made many converts
as he went along. Next we find him
passing along the north Of Tough Neagh
again crossing the Bann at Toome-
bridge. He is now in the ancient terri
tory known as Hy-Tuitre, in Tir-Eoghan,
along the western shore of Tough Neagh.
He spent forty DAYS in this locality, and
we find that he built seven churches.
This district formerly known as Hy-
Tuitre lay between Sieve Gallon and
Tough Neagh and is situated in the
baronies of Loughlinsholin and DUNCAN
non, and seems to correspond with the
northern position Of the diocese of
Armagh. He applies to chief Of the
district, Cairthen Nor, for ground on
which to build a church, but he is refused
and is rudely repulsed by this chief, but
he goes to brother, Cairthen Beg. by
whom he was kindly received. ST. Pat
rick blesses this chief and his wife and
daughter, who afterward received the
veil from him. and who gave her name
to one of the seven churches founded in
the district-the name is still preserved
in the locality, Ardtrea. the height OF St.
Tyea.
BY the aid Of modern Irish authors
nd scholars it is possible to trace the