Waterford in County Waterford, Munster, Ireland — Irish South-West ((Éire) North Atlantic Ocean)

Where St Patrick’s Day Began

— Waterford Digital Story Trail —

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 2026

1. Where St Patrick’s Day Began Marker

Inscription.
Luke Wadding left Waterford at 16 but no one could have predicted the lasting impact he would have on his home country.

Discover his legacy…

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 52° 15.627′ N, 7° 6.409′ W. Marker is in Waterford, Munster, in County Waterford. It can be reached from Greyfriars Street north of Bailey's New Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Greyfriars St, Waterford, Munster, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Ancient East.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

on the Island of Ireland,

on the Celtic Fringe,

in the European Union,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Franciscan Friary (a few steps from this marker); Choristers’ Hall and Mayor’s Wine Vault (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Stephen De Fulburn (within shouting distance of this marker); Brick Lane (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis Chess Set (within shouting distance of this marker); God’s People’s House (within shouting distance of this marker); King Richard II of England (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederick Douglass (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waterford.

Also see . . .
1. Waterford Digital Story Trail.

The historic sign can only be seen in full on mobile devices.

(Submitted on June 23, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

2. Luke Wadding (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Luke Wadding O.F.M. (16 October 1588 – 18 November 1657), was an Irish Franciscan friar, theologian, and historian.

Together with Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi Wadding founded the Ludovisian College for Irish secular clergy, which later became the Pontifical Irish College. In the late nineteenth century, following the unrest of the Risorgimento, ongoing interest from scholars in Ireland led the friars at St Isidore’s to obtain permission from the Franciscan minister general to
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 2026

2. Where St Patrick’s Day Began Marker
The marker is located in front of Waterford's former Franciscan friary.
assign Irish manuscripts to Dublin. In 1900, Wadding's portrait and part of his library were in the Franciscan friary on Merchant's Quay, Dublin. Through Wadding's efforts, St Patrick's Day became a feast day. It took years for it to develop and until the twentieth century for St. Patrick's Day parades to occur in his native Ireland, while the first organised celebration in America took place in the eighteenth century in cities like Boston and New York. Today, parades occur in faraway places like Russia and Japan. Amid all the celebrations, most Irish today do not know about the "Waterford man who created St. Patrick's Day."

(Submitted on June 23, 2026.)

Luke Wadding Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 16, 2026

3. Luke Wadding Statue

A statue of Luke Wadding, Franciscan friar and progenitor of St. Patrick's Day.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.