St. Patrick's Day for Heathens, by William Hopper

[abe smith]

Just like to add that "saint Patrick" that prototypical Irishman was FRENCH.

[abe smith]

Yoh, DON? I just went to ASK JEEVES and asked "Birthplace of Saint Patrick patron of Ireland?" and called up (Anyone else can, there.) a considerable set of sources which indicate *essential undecidability* to the qy. Meanwhile, given this proviso, I withdraw my assertion that Patrick was French= a native of Gaul (which in his period was NOT "France" yet). And i will continue to try to chase down the source of my initial error. Mea culpa x 3. Abe

[-DM-]

Abe:

Thank you for your feedback regarding St. Patrick's Day for Heathens (http://www.secweb.org/asset.asp?AssetID=272) by William Hopper (http://www.secweb.org/bookstore/author.asp?AuthorID=618). E-mail notification has been sent to the author. Although there are no guarantees, you might want to check back from time to time for a further response following this post. In the meantime, a comment.

For what it's worth, the Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/p.htm) indicates that "St. Patrick" was born at "Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland." Encarta says this, however: "His birthplace is uncertain, but it was probably in southwestern Britain; his British name was Succat." Encarta goes on to say that he was "ordained a priest, possibly by Saint Germanus, at Auxerre" (in what is now France), thus there is obviously some confusion regarding his birthplace and given that he allegedly spent some years in what is now France, one can see that he could have been thought of as "French."

-DM-

[ialdoboath]

Actually, all the information I used for the dates and history of St. Pat came from the catholics. I figure as they're the ones who decide who a saint is, I should use them for reference. They also have the oldest (not particularly the most accurate but the oldest) records. Other Irish groups in particular came in later to extol or detract from the Catholic stuff, but the Ctholics are the ones who cannonized him and kept the records, so I went with that. I'm always open to any added info though, so don't feel shy about correcting or adding to anything I write. Much appreciated. Wm. Hopper, www.heathensguide.com

After reading your St. Patrick's Day for Heathens
by William Hopper

I know a lot more about St P than I did before. But I "always" knew that the Irish Potato Famine was around 1849, and the Encyclopedia Britannica says 1846. I believe it went on for at least 3 years.

You said "The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in the United States on March 17, 1762. Irish immigrants who had fled the potato famine and were serving as soldiers in the English military marched through New York City to celebrate the holiday ... "

Daniel O'Connell
(whose Finian great-grandfather left England with a price on his head, about 1870, with my grandfather a year old, having returned after military training in the American Civil War sometime between 1860 & 1865)

[nousername]

This article is the most recent activity by Hopper that I was able to find. I've read his book "The Heathen’s Guide to World Religions", which is currently out of print (unavialable on amazon and indigo).

I would like to buy six (6) copies, to give to friends (I liked it a lot). I live in Kingston Ontario. [Contact information deleted. -DM-]

If anyone can pass this information on to Hopper, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

[-DM-]

Although I deleted your contact information (in order to protect your e-mail address and phone number) I saved the information and I will be glad to contact William Hopper on your behalf (and give him the contact info). We'll see what transpires.

-DM-

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[William Hopper]

Hey...

Coincidentally enough, I am also in Kingston Ontario. You are right that the HG is "out of print", but this is a temporary state of affairs. A new updated edition that will be cross referenced and footnoted (to appease the religious idiots that want such things) will be available hopefully before Xmas.

Get ahold of me in Kingston and I'll let you know when and how to get one (or 6) of the new editions.

William Hopper
[Phone number deleted, but I'll pass it along to the person who inquired. DM]