St. Patrick's stone snakes. Giraldus of Cumbria “Topography of Ireland” and snakes in Ireland Which saint saved Ireland from snakes
An old Irish legend says that when St. Patrick baptized the country, he banished all the snakes from the Emerald Peninsula. First, the reptiles were collected on the top of Mount Crow, and then in the name of the Lord they were ordered to throw themselves into the sea. Historians believe that the patron saint of Ireland did a lot for the country, but the banishment of snakes cannot be attributed to his merits. The truth is that there have never been any creepy crawlies on this island nation.
Archaeological data
Let's start with historical and archaeological data. Ireland is a northern island country. None archaeological excavations they could not find any signs of snake fossils in the country. Historians believe that for a long time, even before the islands broke away from the landmass, a cold climate prevailed here and there was a kingdom of ice. Thus, the reptiles were in no hurry to occupy the territory of modern Ireland. And after warming occurred, the British Isles became independent objects. Only now the snakes living on land in Europe could not reach the northern latitudes. Before them stood an impressive obstacle in the form of melted glaciers, leveled with sea water.
Animal migration
After the last ice age, the migration of animals from Europe began. This was approximately 10,000 years ago. At that time, the lands of Ireland and England had not yet acquired their modern contours, but they gradually dumped annoying glaciers into the sea. The first thing that began to explore new territories was large mammals: wild boars, bears and lynxes. It is believed that Ireland and England split over 8,500 years ago. The British Isles separated completely from Europe 6,500 years ago. This means that snakes had two thousand years to penetrate the territory of modern Great Britain. And so it happened; at present, snakes, copperheads and vipers live in Foggy Albion. 
Other places where there are no snakes
Besides Ireland, there are other island states and regions large countries where there are no snakes. For example, snakes are not found in Greenland, New Zealand, Hawaii, Antarctica, parts of Canada and northern Russia. It turns out that St. Patrick was too busy exorcizing evil spirits. Well, all jokes aside, snakes deserved contempt among Irish Christians. People here have a pathological fear of reptiles and still blame them for the expulsion of Eve from paradise.
The former patron was depicted in the guise of a serpent
It is also known that the Celtic god of fertility was depicted as a reptile. His name was Cernunnos, and it was he who was worshiped local residents before the reign of Christianity on the island. It is believed that this is where the legend of driving out snakes came from. Saint Patrick succeeded his predecessor and got rid of the reminder. However, we already know the truth, and it is confirmed by scientists Nigel Monaghan, Guardian of Natural History at National Museum Ireland in Dublin, and Mark Ryan, an expert at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. 
The only exception
After reading my stories about Ireland, you might have the impression that this is simply paradise on Earth.
No matter how it is! Yes, I liked it there, but there are things that make this country very unattractive for tourists.
And here are some reasons to stay away from this country.
1. Ugly women
Perhaps the biggest disappointment befell me here. The Irish women seemed to be slender, red-haired beauties, but they turned out to be anything but. I won’t talk about everyone, but this photo shows quite an average image of a young lady. Blood and milk, of course, but very much for everyone. 
2. It's cold!
“This is such a shitty summer” - I remembered this joke every day. I imagined that it wouldn’t be hot there, but still I didn’t take any sweaters with me. But in vain. If it weren't for the whiskey, I would definitely get sick. The temperature did not rise above 15 degrees, and this was in June. 
3. Expensive!
Ireland is noticeable more expensive than UK, and she, in turn, more expensive than France and Germany. If you understand what I'm talking about. In the era of the “big euro”, this will not be the most economically profitable country for Russians to travel to. 
4. Country Country
The same point was in the “pluses” in the post about reasons to. At the same time, for some this is a big minus. Big cities practically none, with all that it entails. Many will simply be bored. The Irish do too, which is why they have one of the highest suicide rates in Europe. 
5. Separate visa for Russians
Ireland is a member of the European Union, but is not a member of the Schengen Agreement. This means that to travel to the country you need to apply for a separate visa; a regular one is not suitable. There is a life hack to come here with a British visa, but not everyone has this either. For some, this will be a serious reason to avoid this country. 
And I just couldn’t think of two more reasons... can you help? What's wrong with Ireland? Why shouldn't you go there?
The photographs in this report were taken with an Olympus E-M1 mirrorless camera. A test review of the camera will appear on the blog soon!
An ancient legend says that Saint Patrick, Equal to the Apostles, who brought the news of the Holy Trinity and the Risen Christ to the Irish, expelled snakes from the Green Island by the power of his prayer. Since then, many saints have shone on this rocky but joyfully green land; its people have suffered a lot for loyalty to their Christian roots. Everywhere in Ireland there are ruins of ancient shrines. But such trouble as came to Green Island in recent years and especially months, has never been here before.
The Cabinet of Ministers, headed by Leo Varadkar - a sodomite who proudly declared his illness in 2015 - has launched a campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment to the Irish Constitution, which states: “The State recognizes the right to life of the unborn and, by due consideration, attention to the equal right to life of his mother, guarantees in its laws respect for this right, and, as far as possible, legislatively protects and defends this right.”
The Irish Constitution, while “recognizing the right to life of the unborn,” protects the conceived child from abortion
The 8th Amendment to the Irish Constitution is an impeccable norm in the field of maternal and child rights. Christians in many countries dream of a law that would recognize a conceived child as a human being and protect him from abortion, while protecting the life of the mother.
“This is one of the most progressive pieces of constitutional law the world has ever seen,” says Renua Ireland co-leader Neil O'Mahony. “It provides protection for pregnant women and unborn babies, and , where a dangerous situation arises, allows doctors to prioritize saving the lives of mothers. So, thanks to the 8th Amendment, Ireland has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world: the maternal mortality rate in Ireland is 6.5 per 100,000 people, compared to the United States. – 28 per 100,000.”
The Republic of Ireland is a neutral country; it is not a member of NATO, but is a member of the European Union, whose corrupted “elite” is energetically turning Europe into Sodom. Opponents of Christianity have long been fighting against the traditional values of Irish society, one of which has been the ban on abortion since ancient times. First of all, there is a continuous persecution of the Catholic Church in the media. The real and imaginary sins of its servants are presented in an exaggerated form, while it is suggested that one should not believe in God. Through programs funded by the well-known George Soros Foundation, in Irish universities (which bear the names of saints!) sexual perversions are presented as the norm by gay teachers. As a result of this treatment of young people, carried out under the programs of the Soros Foundation, an average of 40 thousand mentally ill people go to gay pride parades in Dublin.
Today they play on the feelings of young people, telling on TV programs how uncomfortable it is for women to go to England to get rid of their children, that there are several cases (!) of deaths and, of course, that a child under 6 weeks is “not quite a person yet” . Many were assured that the 8th Amendment allegedly “tramples upon the rights of women.” This is how the Pro-Choice movement was born, which convinces Irish citizens to say “Yes” to the desire to kill their own child. One of the inspirers of this crazy crowd, shouting: “My body is my business!” Simon Harris, who occupies the chair of the Minister of Health (!), calls Ireland “cold, callous and careless” because it prohibits the killing of conceived children.
It seems that nowhere is the difference between the Christian and the perverted satanic understanding of human rights: the right to good and the right to evil, more clearly visible than in the current campaign in Ireland.
The best people Ireland today is striving for the truth in the “Pro Life” movement, which has united church parishes with all Irish people, for whom the human right to life expresses the very essence of the national character of this people - life-loving, family-oriented, ready to make sacrifices for the sake of their homeland. The Irish paid a high price for their republic, for their rule of law: neither occupation nor famine broke them. And now, when Mr. Soros, the “sexual educator” of the entire planet, has called Irish children’s right to life into question, this has stirred up the best forces in the country.
“Don’t be afraid to testify to the equality of all lives, both in private and in public discussions, regardless of pressure to remain silent,” said Archbishop Eamon Martin, leader of Catholics in all of Ireland.
In recent months, activists of the “Pro Life” movement - doctors and lawyers, students and athletes, people who themselves experienced an abortion and do not wish this on others - have carried out enormous outreach work in the cities and villages of Green Island. Their visual propaganda is excellent: the posters show the beauty of motherhood and fatherhood, the defenselessness of the baby, his need for tenderness and love. Irish television channel RTE hosted a debate about the identity of the child in the mother's womb, exposing the lie of "doctor" Peter Boylan that the conceived baby supposedly begins to develop only from the 12th week and that before that he is supposedly "not human." In addition, it was revealed that in the abortion bill already prepared by the Varadkar government, the permissible period for abortion is twice as long - up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, while publicly Minister Simon Harris states that the period is half that time.
Nevertheless, the anti-Christian elite, as elsewhere in Europe, acts in Ireland brazenly, assertively and, it seems, is ready to achieve its goals at any cost.
We, Orthodox Christians, know that trials are always sent both to individuals and to entire nations in order to turn our minds and hearts to God.
Whatever the outcome of the next godless referendum, which will take place in distant Ireland on May 25, this shake-up awakens the souls of people on St. Patrick's Island, turning their gaze to their Christian roots. Our prayers are with the people of Ireland.
Snakes are reptiles that live on all continents, with the exception of the ice-clad Antarctica, where cold-blooded creatures simply cannot survive. Ireland is an island, and there are not a single snake here, despite the fact that in Great Britain, on the island located literally next door, they are found. The distance between them is about 80 km, they have very similar flora and fauna, climatic conditions. In any case, an inquisitive person will wonder why snakes are found on one island and have been found for thousands of years, while on another they have never been found in the entire history of mankind.
If you think about it, consider the geological past of the planet, it will not be difficult to answer the question. The answer can be found by considering the planet's ice ages.
Ice ages and the spread of reptiles
Reptiles, as cold-blooded creatures, are attached to warmth, to the opportunity to warm up at least in the short summer, otherwise they cannot be mobile, cannot exist. Ice ages occur periodically; the exact interval is not clear to scientists, but geological research allows us to make some assumptions. Every few million years, the climate on the planet becomes colder, the polar ice caps move further south, covering larger areas, and then, with warming, retreat.
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The last time the ice shells grew was about 110 thousand years ago, and about 10 thousand years ago they began to retreat, freeing Britain in particular. Since the lands in northern Europe and the nearby islands again became fertile, the migration of people and animals to these spaces began. While the water level was low due to the fact that not all the ice had melted, and part of the water of the World Ocean was contained in glaciers, excellent conditions were created for the settlement of living beings. They easily entered the territories, which became islands when the water level rose, via land bridges.
The bridge between the future island of Great Britain and Ireland was the first to be flooded; during this period, there were still many glaciers here that prevented the normal functioning of the snakes. Britain was connected to the mainland for about 2 thousand years, during which time the climate managed to become even milder, snakes were able to move to the island from the mainland before the formation of the English Channel. But they could not get to Ireland; it had already been separated by ocean waters.
The Legend of Snakes and St. Patrick
Besides the scientific explanation, there is also a legend that tells how St. Patrick drove the snakes off the island. A Christian legend tells that the saint gathered snakes on Mount Crow, ordering them to throw themselves into the waters. But the oldest, cunning snake did not listen to him. Then Patrick argued with him that he could not fit in the chest because of his size. Proving the opposite, the snake climbed into the chest, where the saint closed it, and then also threw it into the water.
Interesting fact : Ireland is not the only island no snakes. They are not found on many other islands, even large ones - in Greenland, Hawaii, and New Zealand. They cannot swim long distances, with the only exception being sea snakes, which remain primarily in the water element.
Is it possible to bring snakes to places where there are none?
The modern climate of Ireland creates all the conditions for the habitat of reptiles, and in particular snakes. But they exist only within private collections, in zoos and terrariums. The fact is that introducing new species to places where they were not originally found and releasing them into the open environment of an established ecosystem is extremely fraught. They can cause serious damage by changing the balance of already established food chains, destroying local species, exterminating them for food, or depriving them of natural prey, occupying places suitable for life and breeding.
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An animal species introduced accidentally or intentionally into established ecosystems is called invasive. Once in the ecosystem of the island, where birds are accustomed to nesting freely, the snake is capable of exterminating the chicks, attacking them until they are completely destroyed. Under such conditions, the number of snakes will increase dramatically due to the availability of food and the absence of natural enemies.
In addition, snakes can exterminate rodents and other small animals, which are usually at the base of the food chain, serving as food for local small predators. This situation will create a threat of extinction for endemic island species and affect people's lives. That's why it's unacceptable.
Thus, snakes do not live in Ireland because they simply could not get there. This island separated from the mainland during the early melting of the glacial massifs that arose during earlier global cooling. When the island was connected to the mainland, it was still too cold for snakes. Later, they could not get there because of the water barrier. The modern climate of the island allows snakes to settle and live in these territories, but this is dangerous for already established ecosystems.
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To the question Is it true that there are no snakes in Ireland? given by the author Slip through the best answer is St. Patrick Banishing Snakes
With the power given to him from above, St. Patrick ordered all the snakes from all over Ireland to gather on the mountain, which now bears the name Croagh Patrick, and then with a wave of his staff he cast them into the sea. Only one of the oldest and most cunning snakes did not appear. They had to use “military” tricks on him. St. Patrick invited the snake to climb into the box, which was supposedly too small for him (the snake)... Word for word, and, in the end, the angry bastard climbed into this box to prove that he was right. The box fit, the lid slammed shut, and the last kite set off into the sea following its comrades.
This whole story with snakes, however, can be taken not literally, but as an allegorical and figurative story about the victory of Christianity over paganism: in this case, the snakes symbolize the Druids, expelled from Ireland forever.
However:
The shocking discovery was made by Irish workers from the town of Ballyduff, located in western County Kerry. In a box of paving stones brought from Greece, they found a twenty-centimeter horned worm. However, experts from the Animal Welfare Society who arrived on call issued a more terrible verdict: the most poisonous of them in Europe - the long-nosed viper - has arrived in Ireland, where snakes have not been seen since the time of St. Patrick, who, according to legend, drove all reptiles from the Emerald Isle.
According to the society's chief inspector, Harry McDaid, who specializes in the study of reptiles, the workers were lucky that they did not touch the find, since the bite of this snake can be fatal within a short period of time.
“If the viper had bitten the workers, they would have only two hours to get to the hospital and receive the antivenom serum,” concluded McDaid. “However, it is doubtful that it would be found in local hospitals, as these snakes are not found in Ireland. So the bite would be fatal."
Experts suggest that the reptile, whose favorite habitats include rocky slopes and quarries, could have gotten into the box while loading the stone. At the same time, he had to make a two-month journey without food or drink. Fortunately, the warmth was guaranteed by the plastic packaging of the box.
Caring Irish people fed the viper a live mouse and sent it for permanent residence to the local zoo.
And one more thing: In fact, there is one type of non-venomous snake on the island, but it is quite rare. This shortage of species of these wonderful reptiles is obviously explained by the fact that the island broke away from the European continent quite early (earlier than Britain) and some of the animal and plant species found in Europe simply did not have time to get to Ireland.
