Almost 1500 years ago the patron saint and national hero of Ireland was born to a Gaelic family who had migrated to Britain. The child was called SUCCAT, which means "warlike". Since Britain was part of the Roman Empire and had become Christian, the child was baptized and called Patricius, meaning "noble". For 16 years, Patrick lived a normal life as the son of a prosperous landowner and magistrate.

At that time, a warlike King, Niall of the Nine Hostages, raided Britain, and among the people captured was Patrick. He was sold as a slave and tended sheep for six years on a mountain in Ireland called Slemish. Finally, Patrick was told by and angel that a boat was waiting for him. He made his escape and got on a boat bound for France with a cargo of Irish wolfhounds, which were greatly prized. From there Patrick made his way to Rome.

Patrick studied to become a missionary, for he decided to return to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish. He was not the first missionary to go to Ireland, but the others before him had not been of Irish descent and had little success. Patrick was made a bishop and, along with two deacons, arrived in Wicklow in 432 A.D.

This tiny weed, a member of the clover family, was used by Patrick to explain the mystery of the Trinity, the three leaves of the shamrock representing the Trinity, (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).

The good saint prayed that no venomous beast would live in Ireland and it has worked. No one else can make this claim!

This first thing Patrick did was to seek permission from the Irish Kings to do his missionary work. Here his knowledge of the Irish language and customs helped his effort. Patrick was allowed to do his work, but not without inflicting pain. According to legend, while preaching a sermon on the patience and suffering of Christ to King Aengus, Patrick accidentally drove his staff through the King's foot. The good King didn't cry out thinking this was the moral of the sermon. When Patrick realized what had happened he prayed, and the foot was miraculously cured.

From 432 till his death on March 17, 451, Patrick covered the length and breadth of Ireland spreading the word of Christ. There are legends associated with the saint in every part of Ireland. Croagh Patrick is a mountain where he is said to have spent 40 days fasting. St. Patrick's Purgatory is a well known shrine on an island in Donegal.

Maybe not a wine maker, but there are two wines called after him. Chateauneuf-de-Pape Saint Patrick comes from the Rhone. Tradition says Patrick rested in this ancient vineyard on his way to Rome. In 1780, William Garvey from Waterford settled in Jerez, Spain, and began shipping the local brew called sherry under the name Fino San Patricio. The Garvey family still operates in Jerez and the Irish flag flies over three of their bodegas.

America is the home of the oldest known painting of Saint Patrick, dating from 1300. It is in the Huntington Library and Art Gallery in San Marino, CA, and is from a manuscript of the Legenda Aurea, "Golden Legend" by Jacobus de Voragine.

The most popular name in Ireland is, of course, Patrick. In fact, Irish people are known as "Paddys", which is the male nickname. Patricia is shortened to Pat. However, Patty, is not a common girl's name.

Remeber to check the Official Clann O'Dochartaigh pages at: http://www.islandnet.com/~doherty/clann for the latest news and information on clann happenings. Also see: http://pages.prodigy.net/bkbaker1 for some interesting links to O'Dochartaigh information and some fun things to do and see.

The O'Dochartaigh chat room located at: http://venus.beseen.com/chat/rooms/b/2365 will be converted to private chat by the time you read this. Although the room will be open 7 days a week 24 hours a day, I am taking suggestions on when we can set an official meeting time so we can all get together to chat! Your ideas are welcome, if you have an idea send it to me by responding to this e-mail newsletter.

This newsletter has been compiled by Brian Baker (Daugherty) in association with O'Dochartaigh Clann Headquarters, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.