Towards the end of the Roman Empire, a 16 year old boy was kidnapped and forced into slavery just outside the border of what was considered the "civilized world".  

The young man had never been particularly religious; however, he was kept and worked under the worst of conditions.  So, in desperation, he began to pray to God every day that he might survive the ordeal and one day escape to freedom.  After more than 5 years as a slave, he managed to escape.  After walking 200 miles, he made it to a coast where he found a ship that carried him away. 

 Upon returning home, to what is now England, his parents were delighted to see him and begged him to never leave them again.  However, young Patricius began to hear voices that told him he must bring Christ to the land of savages where he was enslaved.  So, he set off to do just that.

That is how a young British boy grew up to be the patron Saint of Ireland... Saint Patrick.  Not by driving the snakes out of Ireland, but, by converting the idol-worshiping druids and nearly the entire population of Ireland, to Christianity.

 Sara K. Braden, Beautiful McKinney Homes and Art for All Occasions