No snakes in Ireland

 

There is a story that Saint Patrick removed all of the snakes in Ireland. Some believe there never were any snakes in Ireland to begin with, and saying all of it is legend and nonsense. Let's see. It all began with the myth of Saint Patrick (shortened to St. Patrick), stood on top of a hill and sent all of the snakes into the sea. This was a turning point and symbol of the Christianisation of Ireland. Today St. Patrick is a patron saint of Ireland and they celebrate St. Patrick's Day. 

Ireland is an island separate from Britain, although they were once joined geographically. In the last Ice Age, there was a land bridge connecting both islands. By 12.000 BC that particular bridge had gone after rising sea levels, then it separated both islands. Long before then, both Ireland and Britain were connected to the main continent of Europe until about 6,100 BC. 

Many say that Ireland isn't the right place for snakes to live in due to the climate and temperature. However, Britain has got a native snake population. They believe snakes got there when both Ireland and Britain were joined physically to the bigger European continent. So one would wonder if snakes went to Britain, they would've gone to Ireland too, or did they? They also say that Ireland broke away from Europe before Britain did, which didn't give snakes a chance to colonise it. Britain and Ireland were also joined back then when it broke off from the main continent. Britain fell away from Europe in 6,100 BC according to The Conversation. Then Britain broke apart, one became Ireland, this happened 12,000 BC. 

There is no archaeological evidence of snakes ever living in Ireland. No snake fossils have been found there, which means Ireland didn't have any snakes to begin with. St. Patrick didn't send them away. This is what scientists have said. But Ireland has got a native reptile, a common lizard. Other types of reptiles found on fossil record in Ireland are two species of dinosaurs, Megalosaurus and Scelidosaurus. These bones were found on Ireland's Jurassic Coast or Antrim Coast. There's now even a dinosaur park in Kilkenny. 

What I will suggest is the connection of snakes in the St. Patrick myth to the old legends of dragons, as there are many in Irish mythology. The story of St. Patrick is symbolic of Christianity removing the old Pagan religion. Snakes have always been associated with evil in Christianity. Dragons in Irish myth include Cliodhna queen of the banshees and much more. 

Read Dragons of Ireland at The Circle of the Dragon. 

Ice Age Animals of Ireland at Bird Watch Ireland 

Storm Valkyrie