St Patrick Medal Necklace – Clandela

St Patrick Medal Necklace by Clandela Jewellers. Made in Ireland, this sterling silver 925 hallmarked medal features the image of St Patrick on the front, holding his staff. The rear is inscribed with a flower and ‘Pray for us’. An 18″ sterling silver rolo chain with a spring ring clasp finished the necklace perfectly. Presented in a beautiful gift box, it would make an ideal gift for someone with Irish heritage. The St Patrick Medal measures 2.5cm/1″ x 1.5cm/.7″.

St Patrick

Irelands most famous saint was not Irish at all, hailing from either Wales or Scotland. Pirates’ kidnapped him as a boy and brought him to Ireland to work as a slave. He herded sheep in Northern Ireland for 6 long years until his escape. His later writings reflect on these formative years and suggest that these lonely years spent shepherding strengthened his belief in God. Eventually, he was able to return home to his family where he suffered a second brief abduction. Patrick had a vision one night which encouraged him to returned to the island to spread Christianity.

He remained in Ireland for the rest of his life, preaching, baptising pagans and founding churches. The missionary founded his first church in 432AD in Saul, County Down.. He died on the 17th March 461 in County Down. His final resting place is under the Memorial Stone within Down Cathedral. We now know him as patron saint of Ireland, a title he shares with St Bridget and St Colmcille.

Saint Patrick left a lasting legacy in Ireland. Numerous churches, sports teams, townlands and people carry his name. The famous Irish pilgrimages, Croagh Patrick, is held in his honour. Locally, the pilgrimage of Mam Éan follows the path that he apparently travelled. At the top of the pass, one of Ireland’s smallest churches bears his name. The sheer quantities of landmarks bearing his name are testament to his status in Irish history.   Find out more about St Patrick and the legends surrounding him here.