In the Fifth century A.D. Saint Patrick came to the Hill of Slane in County Meath in an early on attempt
to convert pagan Ireland to christianity. On the eve of the Christian feast of Easter, 433 A.D.
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 fire of Bealtine blazed at the Royal seat of power on
the visibly nearby Hill of Tara. ....Background music: Slane
The lighting of a fire seems trivial to us but at the time it was equivalent to declaring war on the Druids
and their pagan beliefs and war against 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 Ireland.
The Hill of Slane is where Saint Patrick (foreground) confronted Laoghaire (pron. Leary) , the High King of Tara and all Ireland.
Patrick lit the Easter fire contrary to the Druidic law, and changed the spiritual landscape of
Ireland forever.
Go to English
+ Bí thusa mo shúile a Rí mhór na ndúil
Líon Thusa mo bheatha, mo chéadfaí 's mo stuaim
Bí Thusa i m'aigne gach oíche 's gach lá
Im chodladh nó im dhúiseacht líon mé le do grá
Bí Thusa mo threorú i mbriathar is i mbeart
Fan Thusa go deo liom is coinnigh mé ceart
Glac cúram mar Athair is éist le mo ghuí
Is tabhair domhsa áit cónaí istigh i do chroí
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Be thou my wisdom, thou my true word
Be thou my battleshield, sword for the fight
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
High King of heaven, after victory won
Naught be all else to me save that thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping thy presence my light.
I ever with thee, thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I thy true Son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Be thou my dignity, thou my delight
Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower
Raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power.
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only, first in my heart
High King of heavem, my treasure thou art.
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Courtesy of Vivian and Jack
Táin na nGael 2000
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Special thanks to Ron Bullis for the picture of St. Patrick on Slane Hill
which was borrowed from his website: Photos in a Spirit's Footsteps.