It's not all about snakes...

Did you know that the oldest surviving text from Ireland is a letter by St Patrick to the British ruler Coroticus, castigating him for kidnapping and killing some of Patrick’s converts?

Learn more about the history of Ireland with our book A history of Ireland in 100 words. Buy a copy and receive a free copy of My name is Patrick, the saint’s own account of his capture, slavery and mission in Ireland.

Please note: this offer is valid online and in-person and it ends at midnight on Sunday, 27 March. If you buy online, the free book will not appear in your cart but it will be included in your order.

About the books

A history of Ireland in 100 words
by Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Gregory Toner; illustrated by Joe McLaren 

Did you know that Cú Chulainn was conceived with a thirst-quenching drink? That 'cluas', the modern Irish word for 'ear', also means the handle of a cup? That the Old Irish word for 'ring' may have inspired Tolkien's 'nazg'? How and why does the word for noble (saor) come to mean cheap? Why does a word that once meant law (cáin) now mean tax? And why are turkeys in Irish French birds? From murder to beekeeping and everything between, discover how the Irish ate, drank, dressed, loved and lied.

My name is Patrick
translated by Pádraig McCarthy

Patrick is the first identifiable person in Irish history to have his life story recorded. This booklet presents the saint’s own account of his capture, slavery and mission in Ireland in a straightforward and accurate English translation. The book serves as an ancillary volume to the Royal Irish Academy’s “Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources” project.