The Real Saint Patrick

This speech was delivered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland by Rev. Stewart. Below is a quote from early in the speech.

'At the outset, we need to debunk some of the myths. First, Patrick was not Irish. He was born in
Britain. Second, the tradition of Patrick's driving the snakes out of Ireland is palpably false. Third, the
shamrock story was first mentioned about one thousand years after Patrick. Fourth, the confrontation
at Tara, though taken for truth by many, is mythical. R. P. C. Hanson states, 'There was no High-
King of Ireland in his day,' and 'miters were not invented for at least 500 years after Patrick.'4 Fifth,
the green beer, is not of an old vintage. Sixth, the claim of Patrick's papal connections is denied even by some Roman Catholic scholars.'