They became quick to notice which way the wind was blowing and changed directions to suit. This is one of the main reasons why Gaelic culture and practices remained widespread right into the 18th Century in Ireland, 2000 years after the Gaels had first established themselves in Ireland.
In Gaelic history there are stories of High Kings invading various parts of Britain when they were at their most powerful; more especially Niall of the Nine Hostages who repeatedly invaded Britain and Scotland, conquering the Picts and harrying the Romans as they retreated south. He finally returned to Ireland in 407 AD. Also, in the 5th and 6th Centuries Irish Gaels conquered Scotland, Wales and a large part of western Britain. This was recorded by a Roman historian and poet, Claudian, who wrote about "when Scots came, thundering from Irish shores" to pillage Roman Britain (The Scots referred to are in fact the Irish). It is through such an invasion of Britain that most likely, St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who was born near the Severn, was taken hostage and brought to county Antrim, perhaps by Niall of the Nine Hostages himself. For six years Patrick was a slave herdsman and when he escaped he was a convinced Christian. He returned to his family but had a vision in which he described "The voice of the Irish" calling to him, so he returned to Ireland in 461 and set about converting the country to Christianity. After his death his disciples ensured that Pagan Ireland was for ever more to be a Christian Celtic country. .
Patrick established his See at Armagh and by 600 AD there were over 800 monasteries in Ireland with Armagh claiming Episcopal authority over all of them. To this day, although in Northern Ireland, Armagh is indeed the religious centre of all Ireland. Christianity focused solely on conversion of the Irish religion and did not seek to change the Celtic society itself at this time.
