Jackson Free Press

• Gabriel Byrne played the saint in the TV movie "Patrick" (2004).
• Patrick Bergin played St. Patrick in another television production, "Patrick: The Irish Legend" (2000).
• More than 90 years ago, Ira Allen played the role in the film "In the Days of Saint Patrick" (1920).

Who would make the best St. Patrick in a new production? While St. Patrick was born to a Briton family in the 300s, these actors are all native Irishmen.

• Liam Neeson: William John Neeson was born June 7, 1952, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
• Colin Farrell: Colin James Farrell was born May 31, 1976, in Castleknock, County Dublin, Ireland.
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keefe, as he was known at birth, was born July 27, 1977, in Dublin, Ireland.
• Cillian Murphy:  Cillian Murphy was born May 25, 1976, in Douglas, County Cork, Ireland.
• Pierce Brosnan: Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born May 16, 1953, in Navan, County Meath, Ireland.
• Gabriel Byrne:  Gabriel James Byrne was born May 12, 1950, in Dublin, Ireland. (Sure, he could do it again—why not?)
• Stephen Rea:  Stephen Rea (born Graham Rea) was born Oct. 31, 1946, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• Ciarán Hinds:  Ciarán Hinds was born Feb. 9, 1953, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• Stuart Townsend: Stuart Townsend was born Dec. 15, 1972, in Howth, County Dublin, Ireland.
• Peter O'Toole:  The legendary actor Peter Seamus O'Toole was born Aug. 2, 1932, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.