Home / Arts and Entertainment / Scorsese Uncovers the True Story of Ireland's Patron Saint
Scorsese Uncovers the True Story of Ireland's Patron Saint
14 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Scorsese and director Leshem dispel myths about Saint Patrick
- Snakes in Ireland are a "complete myth" since the last ice age
- Patrick was from Roman Britain, not Ireland, and was abducted as a slave
In a new episode of the docuseries "Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints" on Fox Nation, acclaimed director Martin Scorsese and filmmaker Matti Leshem are shedding light on the true story of Ireland's patron saint, Saint Patrick.
Contrary to popular belief, the episode reveals that the legendary snakes driven out of Ireland by Saint Patrick are nothing more than a "complete myth." As Leshem explains, "Since the last ice age, there have been no snakes in Ireland." The snakes, he says, were actually a symbol of paganism, which played a significant role in Patrick's life.
The episode also dispels the notion that Patrick was born in Ireland, which was known as Hibernia at the time. In reality, Patrick hailed from Roman Britain and was abducted by Gaels and forced to work as a slave in Hibernia. It was during his captivity that he found God, and upon escaping, he longed to return and spread the faith.
Scorsese, who calls Patrick "probably the best known of the saints," acknowledges that the team had to "invent a few elements" to bring the story to life, but they did so "in the spirit of bringing the mystery of faith closer and making it more present and vivid."
