St. Patrick is the patron saint of this district. He founded the See of Ardagh and placed St. Mel as its first bishop. He had a monastery at Abbeylara near Granard and had St. Gusact, the son of his former master as the head of it.
There are three wells in the district blessed by St. Patrick, one in Bawn, one in Cartron and one in Ballinamuck. The townland of Tubberpatrick near Ballinamuck is named after him.
He was born either in Bristol, Gaul or Scotland. When he was sixteen years of age he was taken to Ireland by Niall of the nine Hostages who sold him as a slave to a man named Milcho. This man who was