Apostle (not as the Twelve, but in the lesser meaning of "first
evangelist") and patron Saint of
Ireland.
Born in
England , taken as a slave to
Ireland where he became a fervent
christian, he managed to escape to
Gaul where he was ordained a bishop, and then returned to Ireland as a very successful missionary. He's said to have used a 3-leaves shamrock to explain the
Holy Trinity (a concept he was quite obsessed with), thus making it the national symbol of Ireland.
Died c.
471.