St. Patrick - (d. 492) - Clothed in the robes of a bishop with a follower holding his shepherd’s staff, he has his hand raised in blessing and holds a shamrock to illustrate the Trinity, Three in One. The royal clan chief and followers listen intently. The poet in the foreground holds a harp - a familiar symbol of ancient Ireland’s creative gifts. Curiously, the poet straddles a ditch and has one foot on either side. This may signify that what was good in the ancient world was retained and combined with the new Christian faith.