Who was St. Patrick - brief history and fun facts

A brief history:

Patrick's birth name was Maewyn. He was born in Roman Britain, but kidnapped into slavery and brought to Ireland. When older, he escaped to a monastery in Gaul (France) and converted to Christianity. He went back to Ireland in 432 as a missionary. While Christianity had already taken hold in the country, tradition has it that Patrick confronted the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites, making Christianity more widespread.

Patrick became a bishop and after his death was named Ireland's patron saint. Celebrations in Ireland were understated though. When the Irish emigrated to the U.S., they created the bigger celebrations and parades known today.

Fun facts:

1. According to legend, Patrick used the three leaf clover to explain the Trinity.
2. Dyeing rivers green began in 1962 in Chicago.
3. Corned beef and cabbage is an Irish-American dish - they were so poor they could not afford nicer meals, even on holidays. On St. Patrick's Day, the best they could do was beef and cabbage.