St.Fiacc states that he was born at Nemthur,[117] and the Scholiast on St.Fiacc's Hymn identifies this with Alcuith, now Dumbarton, on the Firth of Clyde.

The most reliable authority unquestionably is St.Patrick's own statements, in his _Confessio_.

He there says (1) that his father had a farm or villa at Bonavem Taberniae, from whence he was taken captive.

It does not follow necessarily from this, that St.Patrick was born there; but it would appear probable that this was a paternal estate.

(2)The saint speaks of Britanniae as his country.