Saint Patrick's life has been debated by historians and scholars who have reinterpreted the source material written by Tirechán and Muirchú on Patrick. Patrick's own writings, Confession and Letter to Coroticus have also given historians much to wrestle with. There are conflicting academic theories to support the existence of one, three or five different Patricks and indeed one theory which claims there was no Patrick. Patrick's written confession has been extensively analysed by scholars seeking to identify the exact location of Patrick's birth, and to establish the social status of his parents.

Patrick is presented as an irascible, argumentative egotist who cursed and struck people dead when they offended him. He is also presented as a relentess paragon who banished snakes from Ireland and persevered in bringing Christianity to pagan Ireland. At one point, three different places in Ireland competed as the burial place of the saint, with Saul, Downpatrick and Armagh all purporting evidence. Saul is now agreed as the burial place.