In Praise of St Patrick

St Patrick put the grim in pilgrimage and convinced a wonderfully hedonistic, pagan island people to bow before the princes of the Roman church while developing a collective guilt complex unparalleled across the world.

But when it comes to myth-making, influence and staying power, our great saint has left his fellow patrons on these islands – Andrew, David and George – in the ha’penny place.

Irrespective of your religious beliefs, you have to admit our national icon has done well in the legacy stakes. It is because of St Patrick that the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Welcome to Vegas sign will all shine green this weekend.

Without our great saint’s intercession it is unlikely our dear leaders would get their annual audience with the US president and have him wear a great big lump of shamrock on his lapel.

St Patrick has displayed not only tenacity but versatility in becoming synonymous with the ‘craic’ and – let’s face it – boozing.

While such a legacy would no doubt have displeased a holy man with an ascetic fondness for penitential climbs up rocky mountains, it has made our marches a lot less miserable than they might have been.

For that alone he deserves our endless gratitude.