|
The following local legend tells how St. Patrick
came to leave his footprint on a rock at Red Island
during his brief stay on St. Patrick's Island.
When St. Patrick was expelled from Wicklow by
the pagan natives he sailed northwards and landed
on a small island off Skerries, which is now known
as St. Patrick's Island in his honour. When the
saint arrived on this island he had with him a
goat, which was his companion and source of milk.
From this island St. Patrick came to the mainland
to convert the local people. While St. Patrick
was ashore on one of these visits some people
from Skerries went out to the island and stole
his goat. They killed the goat, cooked it and
feasted on it. When St, Patrick went to the island
he found his goat missing. This made him very
angry and in two giant strides he reached the
mainland.
The first step took him to the back of Colt Island
and the second to Red Island, where he confronted
the people of Skerries. When they tried to deny
interfering with his goat they found they could
only bleat. When they were prepared to tell the
saint the truth their voices returned. Where St.
Patrick stepped onto Red island his footprint
is to be seen in the rock to this day. Since then
the nickname Skerries Goats is given to the people
of the town to remind them of this deed. St. Patrick's
footprint can be seen on the rocks near the Springboards,
the tidal bathing place on Red Island. There is
supposed to be another impression of the saint's
foot on the rocks at the rear of Colt Island,
where he took his first giant stride on his way
to the mainland.
|
