| When Patrick returned to Ireland from Rome, he asked King Daire for a site on a lofty hill in Macha. The pagan king was not ill-disposed towards Christianity and he granted Patrick a site for a monastic establishment. Daire did not give Patrick the lofty site but granted him land on the eastern foot of a hill, under the hill of Macha. When one of Daire's horses strayed into the land belonging to the holy sanctuary, Patrick was offended by a brute animal disturbing the sanctuary dedicated to God and he killed the horse. Daire learned of the horse's death and ordered his men to kill Patrick. The moment he issued this command, Daire was suddenly ill. His men asked Patrick for a remedy. Patrick gave them holy water which they sprinkled on the dead horse and restored it to life. The water also restored Daire to good health.
Daire visited Patrick and gave him a precious bronze cauldron. Patrick's response was "I thank you" in Latin. Daire expected a greater display of gratitude and when he returned home, he ordered his men to retrieve the gift from the unappreciative Patrick. When the servants returned with the cauldron, they told Daire that Patrick had again replied "I thank you". The king was so impressed by the steadfast Patrick that he brought the cauldron back, and granted Patrick the land on the hill which he had originally requested. The hill is in the city which is today called Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. Armagh has now two magnificent cathedrals, St Patrick's Church of Ireland and St Patrick's Roman Catholic.  Back to Saint Patrick's Mission     [ Slemish | Downpatrick | Slane | Ardagh | Saul | Croagh Patrick | Lough Derg ] |
