In his twenty-nine years as a
missionary in Ireland, Patrick is said to have
baptized 120,000 people and founded three
hundred churches. Popular myths tell of St.
Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland, but, in fact, Ireland had no snakes. The legends about Patrick removing snakes are probably
symbolic references to his efforts to end the pagan practices of the Irish people, since
certain Christians equated paganism with devilry and Satan is associated with snakes in
the Judeo-Christian tradition. The connection between St. Patrick and the shamrock
probably has a more historical basis. Three-sectioned shamrock leaves may have been
particularly important to the pagan Celts before Patrick’s coming since the druids
considered three to be a magical number. Patrick used this symbol with which the
ancient Irish were likely already familiar to explain the Christian concept of the Trinity
and to represent the cross of Jesus.
Modern Ireland’s overwhelmingly Christian population is in large part the legacy
of St. Patrick.