[QBrigid]

When Saint Patrick was converting Ireland, he was baptizing a Chieftain, when Patrick began the ceremony, he jammed his staff in the ground, accidentally spearing it through the foot of the Chieftain, at the conclusion of the ceremony, Patrick realized what had happened and asked the Chieftain, who was in extreme pain, why he had not said something, the chieftain replied, "I thought it was part of the ceremony."

FYI--The exact story is as follows:

"When about baptise the King [Aongus], Patrick thrust his pastoral staff, by its sharp iron point, into the earth-as he thought. But it was through the foot of Aongus he thrust it. He discovered his grave mistake only when the ceremony was finished. "Why did you not tell me this?" he cried to the king. And Aongus answered simply, "Because I thought it was part of the ceremony."

This is copied directly from page 117 of the book "The Story of the Irish Race, A popular History of Ireland, Written by Seumas MacManus.

So you see, it is not a racist joke at all but a documented history. I'm sure JLS intended no offence.