Saint Patrick's Day is the feast day of which patron saint of Ireland?

Saint Patrick’s Day is the feast day of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s foremost patron saint.

Saint Patrick was a Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop who worked in Ireland during the fifth century. His own writings describe his kidnapping by Irish raiders at age 16, his enslavement in Ireland and his eventual return as a Christian missionary.

The feast is observed on 17 March, traditionally regarded as the date of Patrick’s death. It commemorates Patrick and, more broadly, the arrival and spread of Christianity in Ireland. The day is both a religious observance and a cultural celebration for Irish communities worldwide.

Patrick is not Ireland’s only patron saint. Brigid of Kildare and Columba are also recognised as major Irish patron saints. Popular stories about Patrick include his use of the shamrock to explain the Trinity and his supposed banishment of snakes, though the latter is generally treated as legend rather than established history.