St Pat's Weekend Skiing

It is St Patrick's Day Weekend and we are still skiing with a 32"-60" Base of snow yet. Should be a great weekend of Spring Skiing.
On the way in this morning I caught some chatter on talk radio about St Patrick's Day. The question was as follows..........."Was there really a St Patrick and did he really drive snakes out of Ireland?"
A definite on St Pat, but probably not on the snakes. Evidently, at age of 16(around A.D. 400), Patrick was kidnapped from his home on the west coast of England and carried off to Ireland. After 6 years he escaped. Upon returning home, he received his calling in a dream that he should preach the Gospel. He then spent the next 15 or so years in a monastery, preparing for his missionary work. Although some Christians lived in Ireland at the time, it was Patrick who spread Christianity throughout Ireland and brought an organized church into existance. We wear a shamrock on his day because he used its 3 leaves to explain the Trinity. There was no confirmation of him chasing snakes or drinking green beer..........Have a great Weekend...........ed