Happy Saint Patricks Day! Which makes me wonder. Have there ever been snakes in Ireland?

star_gazer

St. Patty drove the snakes out of Ireland - snakes represent demons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick Mar 17 11, 9:24 AM

ChinaCatmama

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2192/if-st-patrick-didnt-chase-the-snakes-out-of-ireland-what-did According to this link, the last Ice Age drove the snakes out of Ireland. "Snakes in Ireland were wiped out not by St. Patrick, but by the last ice age. Up until roughly 10,000 years ago the British Isles, along with most of the rest of northern Europe, was covered by icecaps and glaciers, not the most snake-friendly of environments. Both Ireland and Great Britain were part of the continent then--sea level was lower since so much of the Earth's water was locked up as ice. Snakes survived in southern Europe, where conditions were warmer. Once the climate improved, snakes were able to recolonize northern Europe, but didn't manage to reach Ireland before rising ocean water caused by melting ice cut them off by forming the Irish sea--snakes don't cross water very well. Only three species of snakes were even able to reach Great Britain--the grass snake, smooth snake, and adder. They either colonized it before the English Channel formed, or perhaps were somehow able to cross it afterward." Mar 17 11, 10:08 AM