I have 1972, 73, 74, 75 & 76.
If you can supply any missing illustrations, please do so.

The following are proof quality medals made by the Franklin Mint (Pennsylvania, USA) from .999 fine Irish silver. They were issued in a sealed plastic folder, called a cachet, with an information card and Certificate of Authenticity, by The National Trust For Ireland, and were designed by Gabriel Hayes O'Riordan. The reverse shows the location of the event on a map of Ireland. The dies for the medals were canceled and presented to the Maynooth Museum, which was selected as their permanent repository by the National Trust For Ireland. By 1975, the issue price was $25 and the brochure for that issue carried a photograph and recommendation by the then Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave. They now fail to sell on eBay for $5! The 1975 brochure went on to say that the silver for this issue represents one month's output of all the mines of Ireland. The rising price of silver in the late 1970's probably caused the ending of the issues - I haven't seen any issues after 1978 when the issue featured St Patrick on his deathbed, so this was probably the last in the series.

When the first medal was announced in mid-February 1972, F.E.Dixon, a noted writer on Irish tokens and medals criticised the issue in IN28 on a number of points as follows;

1 The location and date mentioned on the first is disputed by many scholars
2. The envelope bears a 9p stamp but at the time silver medals were considered jewellery by the post office and an extra 10p for registered post should have been used.
3 The stamp is postmarked Cill Mhantain 17 III 72 even though the only PO functioning in the RoI on St Patricks Day was at the GPO in Dublin.
4 National Trust Of Ireland should read ... For Ireland
5. The secretary of the Trust authenticates the purity and source of the Irish silver and that they were a limited edition before they were made and had no method of verifying the facts.
6. The Franklin Mint omitted to add their name - suggesting it led people to assume they were an Irish issue.

It should also be noted that there is doubt whether all the legends which surround St. Patrick might be a combination of the works of more than one person.

1972 Saint Patrick Lands at Cill Mhantáin in 432 AD. to top
to top   *			1972 Saint Patrick Lands at Cill Mhantáin in 432 AD.
			This is the first in a series of annual St Patrick's Day medalic cachets commemorating important mile-stones in the life of Ireland's patron saint. This year's cachet commemorates St Patrick's landing in Ireland at Cill Mhantain - 432 A.D. The proof-quality medal in the cachet was designed by Gabriel Hayes O'Riordan and was minted of pure Irish silver by The Franklin Mint. This is the first medal that has ever been made of pure .999 fine Irish silver. The cachet was postmarked at Cill Mhantain (Wicklow) on St Patrick's Day. The dies for the medal have now been cancelled and placed in the Maynooth Museum, St Patrick's College County Kildare, which was selected by the National Trust of Ireland as the final repository. The venerated St Patrick became known as the national apostle who converted Ireland to Christianity. He was born about 385 in Britain and was 16 years old when he was captured by Irish pirate raiders, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave. One night he received a sign in his sleep that he must escape, which he did by walking 200 miles to the coast. There he was able to board a ship to Gaul. Although he commenced studying for the priesthood, the "voice of the Irish" continued to haunt his thoughts and dreams. Finally, in 432, Patrick set off for Ireland as missionary bishop to evangelise the Irish Pagans and to preach the gospel. His faith and toil were richly rewarded, enabling him to carry the gospel into regions no missionary had previously visited.
1973 Saint Patrick Lights the Paschal Fire at Teamhair Breagh in 433 AD. to top
to top   *			1973 St. Patrick Lights the Paschal Fire in 433 AD.
			The pure (.999 fine) Irish silver Proof-quality medal in the 1973 St Patrick's Day Cachet depicts one of the most dramatic incidents in the Saint's conversion of Ireland to Christianity. This spectacular event took place on Easter Eve, 433 A.D. That night Logaire, High King of Ireland, and his Druid consorts were holding a special pagan festival at the royal palace at Teamhair Breagh (often referred to today as Tara). The festival was traditionally culminated by the lighting of an enormous fire. And no other fire could be lit within the king's domain prior to this event. In accordance with the Christian tradition for Easter Eve, St Patrick lit a Paschal fire. It happened that St Patrick's fire preceded Logaire's. In a rage, Logaire and his Druids mounted their chariots and set out to destroy the lawbreakers and quench the fire which so openly violated their rules. The Druids attacked St Patrick, only to be stopped in their tracks as a great darkness fell and a terrible earthquake shook the ground. Almost all of the Druids perished. The king and queen retired in chagrin. ...
1974 The Destruction of the Pagan Idol Crom Cruaich Cabhán. c.437 AD. to top
to top   *			The Destruction of the Pagan Idol Crom Cruaich by St Patrick at Cabhán c.437 A.D.
			During the early years of his Christian mission in Ireland, St Patrick achieved one of his greatest triumphs - the destruction of the idol Crom Cruaich. The pure (.999 fine) Irish silver proof medal in the 1974 St Patrick's Day Commemorative Cachet dramatically depicts the Patron Saint of Erie striking down this pagan idol. Covered with silver and gold, this massive stone idol stood in the center of a circle formed by twelve stone pillars at Cabhain, on the plain of Slecht, in the ancient kingdom of Connaught. In this open heathen temple the druids of Ireland made human sacrifices to Crom Cruaich in the hope of securing bountiful crops and other favors. The idol's power was believed to be so great that even the high kings of Ireland traveled to Cabhan to pay homage. About 437 A.D. St Patrick set out to destroy this center of heathen worship. Miraculously, St Patrick toppled the idol with a stroke of his staff. The destruction of the idol was an important step in establishing Christianity throughout Ireland...   Curiously this only has a 7p stamp although the earlier and later pieces have a 9p stamp.
1975 The Triumph Over the Devil's Demon Birds on the Mountain Croagh Patrick, c.439 A.D. to top
to top   *			The Triumph Over the Devil's Demon Birds on the Mountain Croagh Patrick, c.439 A.D.
			St Patrick struck down the devil's loathsome birds that had been sent to plague his Christian mission in Ireland. This scene is portrayed on the pure (.999 fine) Irish silver proof medal in the 1975 St. Patricks Day Commemorative Cachet. About 439 A.D. St Patrick returned to the region in Ireland where he had spent his youth as a slave to pagans. With true Christian spirit, the Patron Saint of Eire planned to climb to the summit of Crochan Aigi (later named Croag Patrick in his honor) and pray for the salvation of the people of Ireland. As he began his ascent of the tall mountain, St. Patrick was attacked by hideous dark birds. But, the man of God fought the airborne demons with his staff and the simple cowbell he carried, soon destroying them. The St. Patrick cowbell as sculpted for the medal by famous Irish artist Gabriel Hayes O'Riordan, is historically accurate. It is based on a relic in the National Museum of Dublin, which still bears the crack believed to have been caused when it was thrown by St. Patrick in his triumph over the demons. The limited edition medal minted by The Franklin Mint, is combined with a special commemorative cachet bearing the St Patrick's Day postmark of Cathair Na Mart, the village where pilgrims from all over Ireland gather each year to make the journey up Croagh Patrick, in the footsteps of their Patron Saint. The dies for this medal have been canceled and given to the National Trust for Ireland so this commemorative can never be issued again.   Issue price: $25 Features St Patrick hurling a cowbell at the Devil's Demon Birds on Croagh Patrick. This always reminds me of the Father Ted episode where the birds steal Father Jack's spectacles.
1976 St. Patrick's Converts the Pagan Princesses at Rath Crochan - 441 AD. to top
to top   *			St Patrick Converts the Pagan Princesses - 441 A.D.
			The 1976 St Patrick's Day Medal depicts one of the most dramatic moments in the Saint's conversion of Ireland to Christianity. The important event took place at Rath Crochan in 441 A.D. When St Patrick encountered Ethne the White and Fedlem the Red, daughters of Loigaire, pagan king of Ireland, the curious young girls began asking him many questions. St Patrick answered extolling Christianity and then said "I wish to unite you with a heavenly King as ye are the daughters of an earthly king. Believe." After they were baptized the sisters asked if they could see the face of Christ. St Patrick explained "Until ye shall taste death, ye cannot see the face of Christ and unless ye shall receive the sacrifice." Then, according to legend, the girls received the Eucharist and fell dead. After a period of mourning, the maidens were buried near the fountain and a church was constructed at the site. The 1976 St Patrick's day medal was designed ...   Ailfionn, County Roscomáin. Commemorates St. Patrick's conversion of the Pagan Princesses at Rath Crochan in 441 AD.
1977 Saint Patrick Founds The Church at Ardd Mache, c.444 A.D. to top
to top   -			1977 Saint Patrick Founds The Church at Ardd Mache, c.444 A.D.
1978 Saint Patrick completes his Ministry at Saul c.461 A.D. to top
to top   -			1978 Saint Patrick completes his Ministry at Saul c.461 A.D.
			St. Patrick's Final Years The 1978 St Patrick's Day Medal commemorates the final years of Ireland's beloved patron saint - years which he spent in quiet reflection and meditation at Saul, a village in County Down. The medal depicts the patriarch on his deathbed attended by his loyal desciples and his sucessor St Benignux.. St Patrick died on March 17, 491 (?). As the moment of his death approached, he experienced a vision in which he saw Ireland brightly illuminated by rays of divine light. But then clouds gathered over the island and obliterated the glorious light from all but a few of the remotest valleys. Fearing this signified that his life's work would come to naught, St Patrick was filled with sadness. But an angel appeared to him and assured him his apostolate would never cease. According to legend, after the saint's death his bier (coffin stand) was lit by a heavenly light for days. For a whole year thereafter nights were lighter than usual. The 1978 St Patricks Day medal ...   What postmark is used on this? The others appear to be postmarked at the place indicated on that year's issue, but this year's shows Co Down, which is in N. Ireland, where UK stamps are used, but this bears a RoI stamp. I'm not sure why the cover says 461AD and the details appear to say he died 491AD - a misprint?

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