Patron saint of Ireland

Incredible history of beloved Irish name

- SEAN MURPHY

ONE of Ireland's most popular exports is St Patrick's Day and with it the name of our patron saint has gone global, as shown by a galaxy of stars.

Ahead of this year's festival, we look at how Patrick, often Padraic or Padraig or Paidi in Irish, is indelibly associated with Ireland and deeply rooted in our history.

Its origin dates back to Latin and is derived from Patricius, meaning of the patrician class or nobleman, but has since become Patrick and is one of the most common Irish names used around the world.

The most famous Patrick of all will be celebrated on Monday when millions will mark St Patrick's Day, and all things Irish, around the planet.

Fr Luke Wadding, from Waterford, is credited as the founder of the modern day St Patrick's Day celebrations to remember that he brought Christianity to Ireland by figuratively banishing snakes.

Fr Wadding was born into a wealthy and prestigious merchant family in 1588 and later joined the Franciscan friars in Portugal before establishing an Irish centre in Rome and installing St Patrick as a patron saint.

CALENDAR

Historical accounts claim that the Vatican asked Wadding to compile a calendar of saints and it was his inclusion of St Patrick on March 17, the date of his 461AD death in Downpatrick, Co Down, that eventually reverberated around the world.

Centuries later, the first La Fheile Padraig is said to have been held over 400 years ago in a Spanish colony in what is modern day Florida.

That 1601 parade in honour of San Patricio was organised by a priest known as Padre Ricardo Artur, whose real name was Richard Arthur.