Christianity comes to Ireland

Christianity spread through Europe in the centuries after Christ’s birth

By 431 AD, there were Christians in Ireland and Ireland had it’s first bishop – a man named Palladius

In the beginning….

Statue of Palladius

Patrick was the son of a Roman Official in Britain He was kidnapped by Irish pirates and brought as a slave to

County Mayo – Croagh Patrick is named after him Escaped from captivity and returned to Britain Years later he returned to Ireland to preach Christianity Spent most of his time working in Co. Down and Co. Armagh.

Saint Patrick

Statue of Saint Patrick

Patrick’s Letters

A Letter to the Soldiers of King Coroticus – Patrick wanted Coroticus to stop kidnapping Irish people for slavery

Patrick’s Confession – an explanation of why he came to Ireland in the first place

Palladius County where Patrick was keptPatrick Where Patrick workedCoroticus Mountain where Patrick livedRoman Empire First bishop in IrelandSlave Patron Saint of IrelandMayo What Patrick called himselfCroagh Patrick A British kingArmagh Christianity spread through thisSinner Patrick’s first “job” in Ireland

Matchup

Monasteries and Convents

Both were remote places where Christians were free of distraction if they wanted to pray

Monasteries were for Men (monks) Convents were for women (nuns) Some monasteries were in very remote places – like Skellig

Mhichil (off the Kerry coast)

Monasteries and Convents

Clonmacnoise is a monastery in Co. Offaly which was not remote – instead it was near a crossing on the river Shannon

Clonmacnoise

Making books in a Monastery – a scribe

Book of Kells