He was actually born in Britain when ruled by Rome. Patrick was kidnapped by the Irish, brought back to Ireland and enslaved for ten years. When he escaped returning to Britain and then later to France where he entered a monastery where he studied for 12 years becoming a Catholic bishop. He later had a dream about Ireland which called to him to return. His mission was to convert Ireland away from its Pagan culture and turn them to Christianity. March 17 is the date of St Patrick’s death. At some point during the 7th century after his death, Irish Catholics began to celebrate St Patrick’s passing. They were in truth celebrating the conversion of Paganism to Catholicism through the diligence of St Patrick.
Do you know anything about the ‘luck of the Irish’. In reality, the Irish were not lucky people. They suffered greatly through tremendous political unrest and the potato famine. Legend has it, Patrick utilized the shamrock as a teaching 
tool with its three leaves to symbolize the trinity as taught in the Catholic church. The shamrock was also a symbol of rebellion. Those who wore a shamrock on their lapel were at great risk. However, it was not until the 20th century that the shamrock was transformed into a symbol of luck on a greeting card. As the greeting card industry took hold, all the ideas and symbols we see today regarding Ireland were transformed and sanitized representations producing a rather lucrative holiday for them, St Patrick’s Day. Today, St Patrick’s Day is more a secular holiday celebrating luck and prosperity. Two things the Irish actually knew about with their tumultuous past history. The strife is reflected now through the coloration of the country flag. Green stands for Catholics. Red stands for Protestants. White is for the wish of harmony.
Another legend attributed to St Patrick is that he put a curse from God upon all the snakes of Ireland driving them into the sea to drown. The authorship of a famous hymn called he Lorica, or Breastplate, was attributed to Patrick. It appears now that the hymn actually dates to a much later period in time. On go the legends which after 1,500 years of embellishment and believing makes it all feel like truth but unfortunately it is not.
Up sprang the leprechaun who hid a pot of gold. 
The leprechaun is depicted as a 2 foot tall shoemaker who is very reclusive living well hidden in the woods where he carries out his shoemaking business. If a passerby heard the tinking of his hammer as he cobbled his shoes, one could sneak in upon the leprechaun and try locate the pot of gold. However, the leprechaun was a crafty little fellow. If the passerby lost eye contact with him, he would steal off into hiding and no pot of gold would ever be found.
Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree
Live mystical, magical leprechauns
who are clever as can be
With their pointed ears, and turned up toes and little coats of green
The leprechauns busily make their shoes and try hard not to be seen.
Only those who really believe have seen these little elves
And if we are all believers
We can surely see for ourselves.
(Irish Blessing)
Green is an amazing color. Ireland does honestly bring that to the fore. It is the color of Ireland,”of mysterious deeds, of an awakening earth, of the mist that lies in the hollows foretelling the coming of spring, of the shoots whose green colour deepens as they stretch toward the sun.” Green is for prosperity and growth. Ireland well deserves everything green has to offer. Lush productive earth. Rebirth of peace and good fortune. Joy and healing from a very hard past.
Do not let all this dishearten you. Knowing correct history is very important. No one wants to be in the dark. We all love a happy time just as anyone else. We can celebrate and spread goodness now. We can all come together and celebrate the uniqueness or every culture and the oneness of every spirit. This is what I am going to do to embrace Ireland with love and respect. Some really yummy ideas below to help us do so.
“Never miss an opportunity of noticing anything of beauty …”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ireland is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people. Celebrate. Never miss an opportunity to infuse love and joy into this world.