St Patrick’s Day: UK Bank Holiday

Patricia Ferguson Excerpts

Tuesday 18th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Jim Shannon]

I believe that when we look past the myths to the message of the man, few in this House would disagree that the holiday should be UK-wide, as indeed should all the national saints’ days for each nation. St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born to a Christian family in Wales, in Roman Britain, in the late fourth century AD.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady needs to be sitting in the appropriate part of the Chamber to make an intervention. Mr Shannon, you should continue.

[Jim Shannon]

Shortly before he was 16, Patrick was captured from the villa of his father, Calpurnius, by a group of Irish raiders who took him to Ireland and forced him into slavery. Six years later, he escaped home to Britain, his religious faith strengthened during his time in slavery. The story of St Patrick is a wonderful one. It is a great story of love, of a missionary and of Christianity.

[Patricia Ferguson]

I thank the hon. Member for giving way, and I thank you for your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker—my apologies.

The legend of St Patrick is a very famous one. We Scots like to think he was born in Kilpatrick in Scotland, but wherever he was born, the things he represents, as the hon. Member says, are things that we can all gather around. I think the fact that the celebrations around St Patrick’s day are so lively probably does have something to do with the fact that, actually, he was Scottish.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Controversial.