Letter from Tours: Before Farrell's army, St Patrick made his presence felt here

Even the Irish Examiner’s trusted guide to the region, Marieke Gourdin of the Touraine Tourism Agency, admitted the news that Ireland’s patron saint was the nephew of an early Bishop of Tours, Saint Martin, had come as a surprise.

St Patrick stained glass window at the  Institution Scolaire Marmoutier,

Andy Farrell may not feel the need, such is his confidence in Ireland’s abilities to take on and beat the best at this World Cup in France, but if the head coach was in need of some divine inspiration a visit to the site of Marmoutier Abbey may do the trick.

It is here on the banks of the river Loire, just to the east of the Six Nations champions’ training base in Tours, that lies the remains of a religious institution dating back to the 4th Century that has an intriguing link to our very own Saint Patrick.