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You are here: Home / History / Did St. Patrick really drive the Snakes from Ireland or was the Legend a Myth?

Did St. Patrick really drive the Snakes from Ireland or was the Legend a Myth?

April 3, 2020 by Karen Hill

No, there never were any native snakes in Ireland, and St. Patrick didn’t really drive them away.

Also, despite legend, he didn’t use the shamrock to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the three-Gods-in-one trinity.

The first written mention of this idea didn’t appear until ten centuries after Patrick’s death.

One explanation to the legend is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of the time, and were depicted on coins minted in Gaul.

Saint Patrick, also known as Naomh Pádraig in Irish, was born around 387 A.D, and was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary.

He is widely known as the most recognized patron saint of Ireland.

Related Facts

  • How Did St. Patrick Banish Snakes From Ireland According To the Legend When Snakes Don't Live In Ireland?
  • What Do Leprechauns Do For a Day Job and Why Did St. Patrick Banish Snakes From Ireland?
  • Who is Saint Patrick, Where is He From, and Why is St. Patrick's Day Celebrated on March 17?
  • How Did the Shamrock Become the Symbol of St. Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland?
  • What Is the Difference Between Ireland and Northern Ireland and Why Was There Conflict Between the Two?
  • How does kissing the Blarney Stone in Cork, Ireland give the Gift of the Gab and how did the Legend originate?

Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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