Early Irish literature is the oldest
vernacular literature in Western Europe. The earliest existing examples of the written Irish language are
Ogham inscriptions dating from the 4th century. Extant manuscripts do not go back farther than the 8th century. Two works written by
Saint Patrick, his
Confessio and
Letter to Coroticus were written in Latin some time in the 5th century, and preserved in the
Book of Armagh.