Government papers have revealed that St Patrick had his sights set on obliterating the eel industry in Tyrone as soon as he had rid the county of snakes. The secret documents show that negotiations between Patrick, the Pope, and the Irish leader at the time Red Gurty O’Neill became heated as the future saint ‘went mad and threw a stick at a donkey in pure anger’ after he was refused permission to wipe out the eels.

Patrick, who despised slithery creatures, had already destroyed the snake industry, with the thriving snake boots, favoured by armies around the time, more or less impossible to buy by the time he turned his attention to the eels. Many snake businesses were left to fend for themselves with no package put in place to ease the financial burden.

Minute-taker at the time, Hosie McNally, wrote:

“Patrick was demented when O’Neill and the Pope said no to the eel initiaive. He started cursing in Welsh and threatened to smite all the Gaels of the country if he didn’t get his way. It was only when St Brigid arrived that he calmed down. She had a great effect on him. She wasn’t a saint yet but we called her St Brigid anyway.”

Til this day, the mention of St Patrick around the loughshore sends shivers down fishermen in case he comes back in some form to finish off his crusade.