After six years, he escaped, went to Gaul, joined a Monastery and began converting pagans to Christianity. Quite successful at this, he was thoroughly disliked by Celtic Druids and arrested a number of times. His name had become Patrick and he eventually became a Bishop who traveled about establishing monasteries, churches and schools. He used a shamrock, it is believed, to explain the three dimensions of the trinity. He was said to raise people from the dead, and to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland.

After many years, he retired to County Down where he died on March 17, AD 461 and was soon raised to Sainthood. That day became St. Patrick’s Day.

Today, there are Saint Patrick’s Day festivals through much of the world and countless cities in America hold parades.

Savannah proclaims its own parade, which began in 1824, the second largest in the nation, although Boston also claims to be second only to New York City. Whatever, our parade, and our St. Patrick’s Day Festival is an annual event joined by roughly a half million people each year, many of whom come from across the country to join in the fun.

The parade begins at the corner of Abercorn and Gwinnett Streets and heads north to Broughton, then turns East to make its way down Bay St., then Bull St., ending at Bull and Harris. More than 250 floats and marching bands from various Irish groups, Irish pipe bands, area celebrities, politicians, military units and businesses participate, to the glee of the waving, shouting, singing onlookers.

The party goes on all weekend along River Street and throughout downtown. River St. boasts music and beer stands and food along the River’s edge.

Local folks throw private parties throughout the city, awash in Green Beer and Irish beer, corned beef and cabbage, and a dozen other Irish specialties.