Born at Ballycastle, Co. Antrim in Ireland on the 17th March 1938, he was educated at St Patrick's High School in Dumbarton and the Holy Cross Academy in Edinburgh. A graduate from the University of Edinburgh(B.Sc. 1958 Dip.Ed. 1966) he went on to St Andrew's College Drygrange, Roxburghshire.
He was ordained a priest at Edinburgh on the 3rd April 1965. Keith Patrick was an assistant preist at Holy Cross Edinburgh from 1965-1966. He then served at St Bride, Cowdenbeath from 1966 to 1971; St Patrick, Kilsyth, 1972 to 1975; St Mary, Bathgate, 1975 to 1978. He then became a spiritual director at St Andrew's College drygrnage from1978 to 1980, rector at St Mary's College, Blairs from1980 to 1985.
He was nominated archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh on the 30th May1985 and ordained Bishop by Gordon Gray cardinal priest and archbishop emeritus of St Andrews and Edinburgh at Edinburgh on 5th August 1985.
He founded the Gillies College in Edinburgh on 7th September 1986 which served as the Diocesan Seminary until September 1993.
Keith Patrick was created Cardinal on 21st October 2003.