St Patrick banished snakes from Ireland forever, and none have since dared to touch the land he charmed. But is the story really as simple as that? Or could the legends of snakes, saints and Ireland’s beginnings stretch much further, with many more twists and turns?

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Sources and Further Reading

General Introductions to Serpent Symbolism and Folklore

• Ireland’s Animals: Myths, Legends and Folklore by Niall Mac Coitir
• Serpent Symbolism

 

St Brigid and Snakes: Carmina Gadelica, Volume 1, by Alexander Carmicheal

Gaedil Glas: Lebor Gabála Érenn, translated by R. A. B. MacAlister

Fionn and Snakes: The Ballad of Sliabh Truim from Duanaire Finn, translated by John Mac Neill

Cónán and the Caorannach

• The great folly, superstition, and idolatry, of pilgrimages in Ireland by John Richardson
• ‘Underwater Worlds of the Donegal Bay Area’ by Helen Meehan
• Hesione and Heracles

St Patrick

• The Life and Acts of St Patrick, by Jocelin, translated by Edmund L Swift
• The Festival of Lughnasa by Máire Mac Neill

 

Music

The Butterfly by Sláinte

Patrick was a Gentleman by Christy Moore

Patrick’s Arrival by Christy Moore

Sliabh – Cathal by Aislinn

Drops of Brandy – The Mountain Kid by Aislinn

Toss the Feathers – Otters Holt by Aislinn

Lunassa by Aislinn