A chara, – Rev Marcus Losack is not correct (November 18th) when he writes: "the [Royal Irish] academy has obviously given its full and unqualified support to the traditional theory of origins in its most recent publication of St Patrick's Confessio (Pádraig McCarthy (transl.), My Name is Patrick . . . Dublin: RIA, 2011)."
That “traditional theory” is that Patrick was from Britain. Where Patrick wrote, “My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon, his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae”, the first end-note in My Name is Patrick states: “There are various theories about the whereabouts of Bannavem Taburniae; none is conclusive.” I do not give unqualified support for any one theory. We simply do not have enough information to be sure of Patrick’s place of origin, whether Brittany, as Rev Losack argues, or Britain, as others hold. Either is possible.
What we can agree on is the significance of Patrick and his faith and his work for the people of Ireland at that time and today, as we approach the 1,600th anniversary of the traditional date of his return to Ireland in 432. I would like to see Christians of all churches showing united action in showing a new life and hope in our own day. – Is mise,
PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,
Blackthorn Court,
Sandyford,
Dublin 16.