Maewyn succat wiki
The story of st patrick...
Maewyn succat wiki
The story of St Patrick the patron saint of Ireland… from Wales
Owen Williams
In 387 AD, a saint was born in Banwen, high in Wales’ Dulais Valley.
He would become the Celtic world’s most iconic figurehead.
Every March, he is celebrated in towns and cities across the world.
To his adopted Irish home and kin, he is known simply as Saint Patrick.
Six years a slave
Born Maewyn Succat (Maewyn: Welsh for devoted friend; Succat: Pagan for warlike), in Bannavem Taberniae (now Banwen), the teenage Patrick (or Padraig) was captured and sold into slavery with “many thousands of people” by a group of Irish marauders that raided his family estate.
Six years a slave, Patrick lived an isolated existence as a shepherd.
The then Ireland was a dangerous, pagan place.
Divided into some 100 self-contained Celtic kingdoms.
Those who moved between became known as “grey dogs” and were often taken captive, relinquishing their rights.
Escaping his captors, a dream told Patrick it was time