Legend has it that after St Patrick’s death, his followers couldn’t agree on where he should be buried. They placed Patrick’s body in a cart and harnessed the cart to two untamed oxen. They agreed to bury Patrick wherever the oxen stopped.
The Oxen stopped at Dun Lethglaisse which is now the site of the Church of Ireland Cathedral, Downpatrick.
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22 March is the Feast Day of St. Darerca. She is the patroness of Valentia Island. Her history is interwoven with legend. She was the sister of St Patrick of Ireland. Darerca was married twice and had 19 children.
John Colgan, (Irish Franciscan friar and historian) recorded that she had two daughters who became saints – Saint Eiche of Kilglass and Saint Lalloc of Senlis.Colgan also recorded that she had 17 sons, all of whom became bishops. However, according to Breton history one of her sons became Gradlon the Great, King of Brittany.
Four of her sons became saints – Saint Mel of Ardagh, Saint Rioc of Inisboffin, Saint Muinis of Forgney, County Longford, and Saint Maelchu.
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Dublin poet Nahum Tate wrote the Christmas carol ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night’.
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There are fewer calories in a pint of Guinness than in a pint of Orange Juice or a pint of milk.
The majority of the world’s population of Greenland Whitefronted geese fly to Ireland for the winter.
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During the 15th-17th centuries Coliemore, a tiny harbour on the south side of Dalkey was the main harbour for Dublin.
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Slieve Gullion Calliagh Berras Lough, on Slieve Gullion, is the highest lough in Northern Ireland. The lough got its name after the woman who bewitched the giant Finn McCool into swimming in the lough (according to folklore). She encouraged him to dive into the lough, and when he emerged from the water, his blonde hair had turned completely white.
Legend has it that the same misfortune will happen to anyone who swims in the lough today.
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