Celebrating Irish Saints: Miracles, Myths and Modern Perspectives

‘Out of the east came the Magi bearing gifts,

hastening in their journey to the Christ child;

but now Irish scholars arrive from western lands,

bringing their precious gifts of learning’.

- Sedulius Scottus

As we’re approaching the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re turning our focus to the patron saints of Ireland, St. Patrick and St Brigid. Greg Daly joins us to discuss the modern conceptions and celebrations of these saints: who they were as historical figures, who they weren’t as pagan deities, and how to approach their many miracle stories from our current perspective. We delve into the incredible achievements and faith of early Christian Ireland, and highlight the issues around the current trend of erasing faith from the celebration of Irish saints and Irish history in general.

Wishing our listeners a very happy St. Patrick’s Day.

“Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!”

Music: Ashton Manor by Kevin MacLeod

Hosts: Rachel Sherlock, Greg Daly

Follow me on social media: @seekingwatson

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @riskingenchantmentpodcast

Follow Greg on social media: @GregDalyIC, @thirstygargoyle 

http://thethirstygargoyle.blogspot.com/

Find out more at www.rachelsherlock.com

Find out more about Leaven Magazine at https://leavenmagazine.ie/

Works Mentioned:

A History of the Irish Church 400-700 AD

The Life of St. Brigid of Kildare by Cogitosus

“Distant glimmerings of Irish light”, Leaven by Fr Conor McDonough

“An unlikely saviour: Without folklore and folk traditions, Catholicism in Ireland might not have survived centuries of persecution and oppression”, Leaven by Francis Young

Ireland's Golden Age: 'The work of angelic, not human, skill’

“The New Paganism” by Hilaire Belloc

Heretics by G.K. Chesterton

What we’re enjoying at the moment:

Greg: Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series)

Rachel: Bleak House by Charles Dickens