*Foot Notes

One thing is clear: Patrick was not Irish. Scholars differ as to the place of his birth--Scotland, England or Wales. The Catholic Encyclopedia says he was born in A.D. 387 to a Roman family of high social rank. He was kidnapped when he was about 16 and sold into slavery in Ireland where he worked as a shepherd. It was there that he learned the Celtic language and found God. Six years later, he escaped to Britain. Some scholars say he predated the Catholic Church in Ireland, others say he was sent back to Ireland as a missionary by Pope St. Celestine I himself. His work there lasted 30 years. Legend has it Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland. Since there are no snakes in Ireland and probably never have been, they are considered by some to be a metaphor for paganism or Druidism, the indigenous religion. Patrick is believed to have died in Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 493, which would have made him more than 100 years old.

* Peter McGowan of the Celtic rock band Finn Mac Cool likes to battle the traditional stereotypes of the Irish people on St. Patrick’s Day. He says the Irish are “more than just a bunch of green-beer-chugging leprechauns.” So this year, the Valley resident has written and released “The St. Patrick’s Day Song,” which celebrates other qualities of the Irish people in a humorous way. Finn Mac Cool will be featured on “Good Day L.A.” Wednesday at 7 a.m. on KTTV-TV.

* Many pubs and bars will have some sort of recognition of the special day, among them:

Ireland’s 32, 13721 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 785-4031, will have an all-day party, 10 a.m.-2 a.m., with live music, bagpipers, dancers, corned beef and cabbage, and Irish stew.

Callahan’s Lounge, 7557 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys, (818) 786-9542, will have five bands, green beer, corned beef and shots of Bushmills.

*

Wednesday is St. Patrick’s Day, and all the Irish and would-be Irish will be celebrating in all the traditional ways. For some, that’s a Mass in church; for others, it’s a drink or two at the local pub. Although practically everyone celebrates St. Patrick’s Day these days, not as many know just who this fellow Patrick was, what he did or exactly where he came from.*