Saints Of Ireland Food Cooking International Guide
Saints Of Ireland With Tales Of Tragedy And Triumph
By Patrick D Kelly
The saints of Ireland are all holy people and dedicated members
of the church who chose to dedicate their lives to serving God.
The saints were not morally perfect and they ranged from kind
to heroic in nature.
Some preached the messages of the Christian Church, while others
performed miracles or died for their beliefs. These were people
who were conscious of their connection with the body of saints
and who worshipped in their everyday lives.
These individuals were meant to serve as examples to inspire
members of the Church and provide a closer link to God Himself.
The Church of Ireland celebrates national days in memory of Saint
Patrick, Saint Columba and Saint Brigid, to name a few.
The Patron Saint Of Ireland
Of all the Irish saints, Saint Patrick is undoubtedly the most
world renowned, which is fitting, since he is the "patron
saint of Ireland." In his teenage years, Patrick was sold
into slavery for six years, where he tended sheep. Upon his escape,
Patrick experienced a vision that would bring him back to his
homeland on a special mission. Other details of St Patrick remain
unknown or have been embellished by folklore over the years.
For example, there are many images of "casting the snakes
out of Ireland," although there were no snakes in Ireland
during the medieval period. Instead, this story is meant to be
allegorical about how Saint Patrick drove the pagans (snakes)
out of Ireland.
Spread The Word Of Christianity
Today, this inspiration is for a review of Irish festivals and
Irish celebrations on March 17th and is credited with spreading
Christianity throughout Northern Ireland and contributing to the
rapid growth of the religion.
Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of three patron saints of Ireland,
was one of Patrick's converts who dedicated herself to religious
life as a nun, abbess and bishop. Stories of her say that she
had a generous heart and could never refuse assistance to poor
people who came to her door.
The Patron Saint Of Travelers
She gave them flour, milk and jewels whenever she had the chance.
It's no surprise, then, that she is the patron saint of travelers,
poultry farmers, dairy workers, babies and the poor. Brigid is
noted for opening some of the best convents and monasteries and
chapels in Ireland. The Irish celebrate her feast day on February
1st.
Some saints of Ireland have rather tragic tales and leave behind
relics of their bodies to serve as reminders of Irish history.
For instance, Saint Laurence O'Toole served as a monk at Glendalough
and an Archbishop of Dublin.
A Display Of His Heart In Christ Church Cathedral
During the Anglo-Norman conquest, he became a Papal legate in
1179, much to the chagrin of England's King Henry II, who banned
Laurence from entering his home country. Despite his unfair exile,
Laurence was Irish through and through. His heart is now on display
at Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral.
Likewise, Saint Oliver Plunkett, a priest in 1654 and an Archbishop
of Armagh in 1666, Titus Oates wrongfully persecuted and convicted
Plunkett as a "traitor," ordering him hanged, disembowelled
and quartered.
Today his thighbone is in the church of Oldcastle in County Meath
and his head is on display in Drogheda.
About the Author:
Patrick D Kelly has written a number of articles on recipes, cooking, food and kitchen tools including
Irish Recipes,
Vegetarian Crock Pot,
Fruit Juice,
Kitchen Equipment,
Can Opener,
Kitchen Scale,
Sabatier Knives,
Wood Bread Box,
Grocery Shopping.
Keep a lookout for more articles on this website.
Did You Know?
What are some usual customs of Saint Patrick's Day?
One of the most common customs associated
with Saint Patrick's Day is the wearing of green. It is said that
if you wear green on this day you will have good luck. The shamrock
also plays an integral part of the customs of this day.
A 4-leafed clover is said to be good luck
but the 3-leafed clover is a symbol of the Holy Trinity of the
Catholic Church. Other common customs involve food and drinking.
It is widely accepted that on this day you should eat corned beef
and drink beer.
Whether or not you want to dye your beer
green is entirely up to you. There are usually parades held in
major cities that have a large Irish population or are descended
from Irish.
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