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64 Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
On the eve of Easter 433, Patrick and his followers encamped in present day county Meath, on the Hill of Slane, opposite the King’s palace, where he lit his Pascal fire in cele- bration of the Feast of Easter. Now it happened that this was also the eve of a pagan festival, either Bealtinne or alternatively, the King’s Birthday, on which all fires had to be extinguished, and none re-lit until the venerated Druids should first light their annual vernal and sacred fire at the royal palace.
So, great was the indignation when King Laoghaire and his assembled Druids and at- tendants beheld a forbidden flame burning brightly in full view of the royal court. Enraged, the King cried out: ‘What bold miscreant has dared to do this outrage?’ One wise old Dru- id and visionary, answered that it was the Táilgeann-‘the Adze-Head’, or ‘Tonsured One’, whom the old prophecy had foretold would come across the seas to override both the King’s rule and the Druid’s rule in Ireland. ‘Moreover,’ the old Druid continued, ‘unless the fire on yonder hill be extinguished this very night, it shall never more be extinguished in the land. It will outshine all fires that we light, and he who lit it will conquer us all: he will overthrow you, and his kingdom overthrow your kingdom: he will make your subjects his, and rule over them all forever.’
On hearing this Laoghaire commanded that the miscreant be arrested and brought be- fore him and his Druids for questioning. But Patrick triumphed over the angry Druids whom Laoghaire sent to question him, and so impressed was the King by Patrick’s exposition of the Christian faith that he gave him permission to explain the new creed to the assembled court at Tara. So it came to pass, that the next morning, Easter Sunday, Patrick preached before the King and his court and it is recorded that singular success resulted, because thou- sands were converted. Although Laoghaire himself did not become a Christian, nonethe- less, he gave Patrick permission to preach the new Gospel wherever he wished throughout the seven kingdoms of Ireland, and he promised freedom and toleration to all who wished to embrace the new faith.
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