The narrative between the legendary Saint Patrick and his opponent, the idol Cenn Cruaich, appears from the initial mention of the location Magh Slecht in Tírechán’s Collectanea (c. 688-693AD), through the Vitae Tertia (c. 775AD), Quarta (c. 8th – 11th C. AD) and Tripartita (c. 9th – 10th C. AD), to its appearance in Jocelin’s Vita Patricii (c. 1185 AD). As the story of the confrontation grew, various elements were added – both to strengthen the tale and for symbolic reasons. At its height in the Vita Tripartita, the narrative contains nine distinct elements. The breadth of these elements proves the careful construction that went into crafting this particular aspect of the Patrician Lives. Thus, while this tale may be ultimately aetiological in origin, treating it only as such would be an oversimplification.