March 16, 2005
La Fhéile Palladius?
St. Patrick might have scratched his back against this rock. Cross Pillar hidden in the dunes at Gortnagarryan strand, near Emlagh Point, Co. Mayo, with Croagh Patrick in the background. Did St. Pat ever visit the mountain that bears his name? Hmmm...that would be an ecumenical matter.
Prof. Dáibi Ó Cróinín (NUIG) gave a very witty lecture on St. Patrick in the King's Head last night. He wasted no time in demolishing most of the accepted knowledge about our patron saint, pointing out that the account of Patrick's life written by the saint himself is pretty short on detail - a fact that hasn't stopped every historian since the seventh century just making stuff up (Exhibit A for the prosecution - his link to Armagh).
He also describes the life of Palladius - a French missionary sent to Ireland in 431 to spread the good word. 431? Yes, the year before St. Patrick supposedly came to Ireland, there is an independent account of another missionary who arrived the year before. As the Prof. points out, Patrick's arrival was only dated centuries later and is a bit suspect. What is undisputed is that Patrick had more faithful followers (or maybe they just lived longer - I.e. more than a few days). Missionaries were about as welcome as tax inspectors and their life expectancy (and that of their followers) wasn't guaranteed for long (just as well they were believers, then). In fact, the only letter from Patrick that has survived describes his disappointment after a large number of new converts were butchered by unimpressed locals. Céad Míle Fáilte, eh? But Patrick persevered and in Mayo alone, there isn't a boreen, pile of stones or puddle that doesn't have some connection with Ireland's most famous Welshman (if indeed he was Welsh at all). Clearly Palladius only converted vegetarians, who didn't last the winter. Which is why in Ireland, no one has ever heard of him.
I turned up in the Kings Head exactly at 8, thinking I'd have the pick of any seat. Not a bit of it. The place was jammed with students and I'm sure their attendance was solely due to the erudition of Prof. Ó Cróinín rather than the free wine and cocktail sausages on offer (not too many vegetarians in evidence in the King's Head either). I eschewed the free plonk in favour of Uncle Arthur's Magic Brew but I was hoping for some snacks. Didn't get a pick - the hungry third-level freeloaders scoffed the lot.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. And don't forget Palladius.
P.S. The rest of Irish history, as described by The Onion (via Slugger)
Posted by Monasette at March 16, 2005 09:31 AM
Bloody students. ;-)
Pity, I'd heard of that lecture and had half a mind to go but didn't. Daibhí Ó Cróinín is great, really knows his stuff and he's engaging - the studes love him - if only there were more academics like him.
Posted by: brendan at March 23, 2005 01:08 PMWhat a shame that the "buyers and sellers are allowed in the temple" of Croach Patrick and Knock and lough Derg Pity there isnt someone to drive them out they defile the Holy Places
all for the sake of making money Obviously Patrick didnt rid Ireland of all the snakes