St. Patrick's NS, Slane

Our Patron Saint- St. Patrick

In the fifth century AD Saint Patrick came to the Hill of Slane in County Meath in an early attempt to convert pagan Ireland to Christianity. On the eve of the Christian feast of Easter, 433 AD which coincides with the Druid feast of Bealtine (Beal's Fire) and the Spring Equinox, St. Patrick lit a bonfire upon the Hill of Slane. There was a law that no fire should be lit in the vicinity when the great festival of Bealtine blazed at the Royal seat of power on the visible nearby the Hill of Tara. The lighting of a fire seems trivial to us but at that time it was equivalent to declaring war on the Druids and their pagan beliefs and also on the King of Ireland. That small act of starting a fire was a turning point in St. Patrick's life and in the history of Tara and all Ireland. Patrick lit the Easter fire contrary to the Druidic law, and changed the spiritual landscape of Ireland forever.

Our school logo is the fire on the Hill of Slane with the words "Coinnigh an Solas ar Lasadh" - 'Keep The Light Burning'. We in St. Patrick's N.S. aim to pass on the light of faith to our pupils.