There are no snakes in Ireland. Because, according to legend, St. Patrick expelled them. True, or folk tale?

St. Patrick, ironically, wasn’t Irish. Or, named Patrick. He was born Maewyn Succat in 390 AD in Britain, kidnapped by pirates at 16, and held in slavery in Ireland for 6 years.

He escaped and joined a monastery in England. Then decided to return to Ireland as a missionary, where he converted Druids and built the first church.

He died in 460 AD in Downpatrick, hence the name. A few centuries later, he was recognized as Ireland’s patron saint for bringing Christianity to the land.

A few centuries after that, his mythology had grown. Apparently, the snakes of Ireland once threatened him on a hilltop. He responded by beating a drum that drove them into the sea.

Scholars believe this is a symbolic tale of Patrick purging Ireland of its pagan rituals.

Scientists argue that Ireland never had snakes in the first place.

In the last Ice Age, Ireland was covered in glaciers, much too cold for the cold-blooded creatures. Since the ice retreated, Ireland has been isolated by the frigid Irish sea.

There are other isolated islands, like New Zealand and Hawaii, that don’t have snakes. And other cold regions, like Alaska and Northern Russia. So, it’s not as unusual as it sounds.

But it makes for a good story over a green beer.