Being born and brought up in Ireland one is surrounded by references to the chief of the island's three patron saints, Saint Patrick. Travelling through counties Antrim, Down, Armagh there are references to this mysterious and legendary figure everywhere. The other two patron saints of Ireland are St. Brigid and St. Columba also known as Columcille - but don't get Columba confused with Columbanus.

The unmistakable sight of Slemish sitting lonely just off the Antrim plateau, looking like an upturned basin this mountain is comprised of the central remnant of an extinct volcano from the days when this part of Ireland was the centre of a large volcanic complex.