Maybe according to Catholic tradition...But obviously not by Patrick's own words...
LOL ... he ordained priests, for crying out loud.
I just read Patrick's account (again)...He never mentions the word priest...Obviously he knew the difference between a priest and an elder...
And unlike Catholic priests, Patrick never mentioned tradition but he spent a lot of time reciting and referring to scripture...
There is absolutely nothing in his treatise that would lead one to think he had a Catholic connection whatsoever...
Perhaps the Catholic religion stole Patrick's history and claimed it for it's own??? Naw, the Catholic religion wouldn't do that, would they...
-— the difference between a priest and an elder -—
The word, presbuteros, can be translated as elder, presbyter, or priest.
St. Patrick was probably aware of this, since he was a Catholic bishop.