ANSWERS to yesterday's St Patty's Day Quiz

As promised . . .

1 (a) St Patrick was a Christian missionary (but he did spend time in a French monastery before returning to Ireland to convert the Irish pagans).

2 (b) St Patrick also drove the snakes out of Ireland (which is usually interpreted to mean he drove paganism out of Ireland).

3 (c) St Patrick used the shamrock to demonstrate the concept of the Holy Trinity (apparently he found those pagan Irish a bit thick ...)

4 (a) 'Tis said St Patrick is buried at Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland (There is no such place as "Patrickborough". NOTE: there's been considerable discussion about the lad's final resting place, and 'tis been suggested he was actually buried a dozen or so kilometers away from Downpatrick ... in a barn instead of a church.)

5 (b) St Patrick also brought the Roman alphabet and Latin literature to Ireland (the Celtic harp and countless recipes for cooking cabbage or kale probably preceded him by many generations).

6 (b) False. Young St Patrick was probably a Welshman, captured by a group of Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave.

7 (c) St Patrick's Day commemorates the day St Patrick died (reported to be March 17, 461 AD).

8 (b) St Patrick is thought to have driven the snakes out of Ireland by banging on a drum (and I can't help but wonder if this is a euphamism for overly exuberant preaching). BY THE WAY, Question #8 pretty much gave you the answer to Question #2 ... did you notice?

9 (c) The colour green represents the colour of spring and the shamrock (although I'm all for associating it with green Irish beer, as I "tipped a few pints" of the stuff myself last night!)

10 (a) You're supposed to give them a pinch (but next year be a sport and buy them a beer after you pinch them, okay?)

May your hangover wear off quickly! Erin Go Braugh!