Source: www.saint-patrick.com/history

Born either in north Ireland or south Scotland, Patrick was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. Through all his hard life and living in solace, he found comfort with praying night and day to the Christian God.

One night, he heard a voice calling him and telling him that the time had come for him to escape which he did but was later captured and brought back as a slave. However, he again heard God's voice reassuring him that he was to be enslaved only for two months. Good enough, after 60 days, he was delivered from his slave owners. St. Patrick was a man of composure and quiet confidence which later impressed King Loaghaire. This threatened the king's druids in fear that if the king accepted Patrick's religion, it would mean the loss of their jobs. They mocked Patrick's belief in one God who had three personalities - The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In desperation, Patrick prayed to God for inspiration. He noticed a patch of shamrock. He plucked it and told his audience, "There is one stem but three leaves on it. So it is with the Blessed Trinity. There is one God but three persons stemming from the same divinity." The king was very impressed with his devotion and rhetoric but refused to receive the message in fear of being accused of betraying his people and their beliefs. However, he allowed Patrick to move about the country and to share his faith to others. Later, the king embraced Patrick's faith and allowed Ireland to be converted as well. Later, St. Patrick will be known to drive the snakes from Ireland. However, the snakes were at the time the symbol of paganism.

Irish Facts:
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737, the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly. Of the 42 American Presidents, 21 have been of Irish descent.