St. Patrick.  Who was he?  According to records, St. Patrick was a Romano-Christian missionary and Bishop in 5^thcentury Ireland.  He was born into a wealthy family and raised in Great Britain.  His father was a deacon and grandfather a priest in the Christian church.  He was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Gaelic Ireland, where he would remain for the next six years, working the land where he quite notably found religion.  After having a vision from God, Patrick ran to the coast, boarded a ship and returned to Great Britain where he, too, would become a priest.  It was upon his return to Ireland some years later that his evangelism would convert thousands of people from the northern half of Ireland to Christianity.  He became the patron saint of Ireland. Stories were told and folklore shared, much of which was exaggerated, including the allegory of St. Patrick being the “ridder” of all snakes from Ireland.  We will return to the significance of that shortly.

Rosapenna.  “It is difficult to write with restraint about Rosapenna.  The exceptional beauty of the surroundings is liable to interfere with unbiased criticism.”  Harry Cole, 1927.  

Home to three spectacular links courses, including the inimitable and world acclaimed, St. Patrick’s, Rosapenna is owned by and operated by the Casey family.  Located along the serene beauty of Sheephaven Bay, the expansive and pure natural environment, the nostalgic history and names attached, set this location and this facility apart from anywhere else on the golfing planet.  There are very few words that can capture the feeling one has when starting and ending a day in this very special place.