"St Brigid: Goddess or Saint?" from Treasure Ireland, Irish Dominicans

 

A Catholic perspective on Saint Brigit, “St Brigid: Goddess or Saint?”

“It's become common to say that St Brigid was an imagined figure, an unhistorical ‘saint’ modelled on an earlier pagan goddess. We visited St Brigid’s Well in Faughart, Co. Louth to delve into the evidence for the historical Brigid.”

Artwork: FRIZ (thisisfriz.com) 

Video: Patrick Grant 

Presenter: Conor McDonough OP

“This World and the Other – Magical Stories with the Saint and the Goddess, Brigit” - Reading & Meditation with Mael Brigde

 

 

[Sun Among Stars] reflects the long and deep journey that Mael Brigde has made with Brigit in her many guises … [Her] journey is a deeply embodied one, reflecting insights gleaned during her studies which have become a living part of her. She encourages readers/students to grasp this possibility for themselves as they engage with the material.
 
This work offers a portal into the mysteries of Brigit and the possibility of readers grounding her qualities of compassion, courage, love, wisdom and fearlessness in their own unique ways in their current lives.
 
Thank you for this important and comprehensive work.
 
Dolores T. Whelan, author of Ever Ancient, Ever New – Celtic Spirituality in the 21st Century, and co-founder of Brigid's Way Celtic Pilgrimage

(I stumbled across this endorsement for my book a couple of days ago. I had written Dolores asking for an endorsement when she didn’t know me at all, and I was blown away by her response. It was she who invited me to read at the festival — thus blowing me even further away than before. Thank you, Dolores!)

🔥

As mentioned, I will be in Dundalk, Ireland on 1 February, as part of the Brigid of Faughart Festival and Brigit 1500, reading and leading brief meditations.

I wrote much of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars, because I wanted a book of poems and prayers to help me become grounded when I sat down to be with Brigit, something that would help me recall the connection I have with her and prompt me to contemplate the different sides of her. When I dip into the book, it is usually in such moments. I light a candle, meditate, offer songs and a poem or two.

I decided that this was the way I wanted to present them to the folk who gather with me in Dundalk. To start with a centering meditation, and to offer the stories of Brigit as part of a larger contemplation. I am even trying to rub some of the rust off of my voice box so I can sing the parts of the meditation I normally would in the privacy of my room.

If you are able to join us that night, you would be very welcome. Please feel free to say hello afterward.

🐦‍⬛ 

The event will be held at 6 PM at the County Museum on Jocelyn Street. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

Venue: County Museum Dundalk 8 Jocelyn St, Townparks, Dundalk 54°00′17″N 6°23′49″W

Book: A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde

Image: festival banner with the words “Brigid of Faughart Festival - Celebrating Brigid, Celtic Goddess & Matron of Ireland.” On one end is a mandala of rings of water and fire and plants, with a four-armed Brigit’s cross in the centre and a white hand holding it up. On the right is a painting of a white woman, half goddess and half saint, with fire and water and other designs surrounding her.

💧

Online Brigit Festivals in Ireland

No one, I trust, would call COVID-19 a blessing. It has been a curse, and the brunt of it borne by those who could least afford to bear it. Like any event, however, it has brought small blessings in its wake. One of these has been the blossoming of live online connections, social, spiritual, artistic, health-related – it has been astonishing. For those with access to computers and the internet, doors have opened which could not have before. I only hope that some of these remain open when we "return to normal." Particularly for those who have not been well enough to attend outside events, or those who live in rural communities far from urban offerings, the opening up of online access has been life enhancing, to say the least.

                  

This year, for the first time, those of us normally unable to get to Ireland can go to Lá Fhéile Bhríde in Kildare, or to the Brigid of Faughart Festival in the Faughart and Dundalk area – or to portions of both, if we have the energy and the time, and in some cases, a bit of coin, as well. 

 

The Brigid of Faughart Festival has joined with An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk to host ‘Cruinniú Lá Fhéile Bhríde – Gathering Under Brigid’s Mantle.’ It will take place from 8 P.M. on 1 February 2021.

Lá Fhéile Bhríde is as usual put on by Solas Bhríde and Afri (Action from Ireland). It will take place in individual sessions from 12 A.M. 31 January to 6 February 2021.

The entire ‘Cruinniú Lá Fhéile Bhríde’ is €10. Kildare's Lá Fhéile Bhríde events are each separate. Some are free, some cost €11.53.

P.S.: Don't forget we also have the first annual St Brigid's Day Festival of Vancouver, Canada from Jan 31 - Feb 7, 2021. Online as well, of course.

Image: The weavers of Brigit's crosses are from the Solas Bhríde website.

News article: "Louth's Brigid of Faughart Festival is going online" by Michelle O'Keeffe, 25 Jan 2021.

Story Archaeologists Revisit Brigit

Sculpture by Annette McCormack

Last July I posted about Chris Thompson and Isolde Carmody and the Brigit-related entries on their excellent site, Story Archaeology . The site combines well-informed and good-natured podcasts, blog entries, and images. This link will take you to my original posting, and through that to their original postings. But they have recently revisited Brigit and her world, and I want to share those new links with you as well. I very much enjoyed the new podcast (as Facebook has no doubt noticed, since I posted links to it in every group I belong to). Here is a link to it, and to the blog postings.

Revisiting Mythical Women 05: The Search for Brigid

Brig and Rúadán

The Story of Rúadán from Cath Maige Tuired

Lassair and Her Well

Fochard Bríde

Brigid Links

They provide downloadable files of all their podcasts (mp3s), or you may subscribe to them through iTunes. (Hint: I have found with iTunes in this particular case that I need to download the podcasts one at a time. Can't just click on them all and walk away.)

The clip below (which looks like video but is actually audio stuck on a picture of Saint Brigit's Well at Faughart) is from the original podcast.



Hear also (of course!) the podcast on Brig's husband Bres in the Cath Maige Tuired, and read the associated blog postings.

Bres by Jim Fitzpatrick

Brigit's Birthplace: RTÉ Documentary on Faughart, Ireland

From Geolocation

At St. Brigit's Shrine in Faughart, Co. Louth, pilgrims have long come to pray the stations and tie up offerings of cloth in order to leave their troubles behind them. Blathnaid Ní Chofaigh of RTÉ explores the area to learn more about St. Brigit and her cult.

From Brigit of Faughart Festival

An impressive moment in the film is watching local woman, Una Casey, making a rush cross while chatting with Blathnaid--one strong enough to kick to Dundalk without it coming apart.

Cross Making with Una Casey in the County Library

Una has been making Brigit's crosses since childhood, and gives workshops in the craft, above at the County Library, and also at the Brigit of Faughart Festival.

(Click here to watch on YouTube.)

RTÉ Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster (2011)

Brigid's Wells

Here are photos and snippets from different sites about the many wells of Saint Brigid. Please go to the original sites for more info and photos. Seethe bottom of this post for a list of Brigid's wells, from Conrad Bladey's site, and an essay on Irish holy wells by Mary Ellen Sweeney. For her list of Irish holy wells, please follow the link (below) to her article in BellaOnline: the Voice of Women.

CASTLEMAGNER HOLY WELL St. Brigid's Well is located across the river from the ruins of Castle- magner castle. It is a druidic well adopted into Christian ritual. It was originally the well of Brede (the druidic goddess of agriculture) and later, in the Christian era, became the well of St. Brigid of Kildare. When the parish of Castlemagner became a Protestant parish in 1591, Roman Catholic mass was celebrated there on Sundays, and it hence became known as a Sunday's well. This practice was stopped in 1658 when Captain Roger Bretridge became landlord of this area as a result of the Cromwellian confiscations. However, the practice resumed per- iodically after Catholic Emancipation in 1829. Between 1658 and 1704, rounds of the well was one of the few Catholic rituals allowed in the par- ish. The well was refurbished and covered over in 1771 by Mr. Eoin Egan of Subulter, a cripple who was miraculously cured at the well. It is a beehive shaped covering with an opening to the well at the eastern side. On the left of the opening is the best preserved effigy in the world of Shíla-Ní-Gig, a druidic symbol of the supreme goddess of fertility. This was brought by Mr. Egan from the ruins of an 8th century church in Subulter. On the right of the opening is an effigy of the Archangel Michael. This was the centre keystone on the arch of the main entrance to Magner's castle and dates from approximately 1200... Beehive with Sile na Gig.............. Site of St Brigid's Well From 800 until 1461, the Shíla-Ní-Gig at Castlemagner Holy Well was attached to the inside of the wall of Subulter church, which explains its well-preserved state. The Holy Well in Castlemagner was the scene for a series of lectures, 18th October 1998, on the place of the Holy Well in Irish Mythology and in early Christianity. Until the dedication of the new church and parish of Castlemagner to Saint Mary in 1867, the parish and the Holy Well were anciently dedicated to St Brigid in the Catholic and Church of Ireland persuasions... ******************************************************************** Kilcornan Parish © Descent to St Brigid's Well **************************************************************** Clondalkin, Co. South Dublin: ST BRIGID’S WELL St Brigid’s Well in Clondalkin is shown at this location on Rocque’s map of 1760 and on later maps of the area. The well is likely to be considerably older as it is believed to have been established by the Irish Christian nun and abbess Brigid in the 5th century AD in order to baptise pagans. St Brigid’s well is locally venerated in Clondalkin throughout the year but particularly on her feast day on February 1st. The well water is believed to have curative properties particularly for sore eyes and the drying rags and other votive objects are tied to the Holy Tree of ash. The original tree of whitethorn is no longer present. During the 1990’s, road widening works for Fonthill Road resulted in the reduction of the area of the well along the east and south sides but the well itself was maintained in its original location. However, the works for the road altered the underlying water source or spring. The well is now covered and a channel replicating the original stream outlet is present in the north. Tradition indicates the presence of an associated Children’s Burial Ground at the well but its exact location is now unknown. It may possibly be located in the raised grassed area to south of well in the vicinity of the upstanding white metal cross but it is locally believed to be located in the open green area to north-west of the well. RPA recently carried out a geophysical survey of the well and the surrounding areas but the results of the survey were inconclusive and indicated that the grounds were very disturbed from modern works. The results from the survey can be reviewed on the RPA website (www.rpa.ie). RPA understands the importance of the well as a historical site but also as an important aspect of community life in Clondalkin. We are currently finalising the design of Metro West along the Fonthill Road and presented for public consultation, two design options for the proposed scheme at this location. One option maintains the well in its original location and the other proposes the relocation of the well to the green area to the north-west. There are advantages and disadvantages for the community associated with each option and these are also detailed on the RPA website www.rpa.ie. Submission and comments on the options will be welcomed by the RPA up to 21st July and it is anticipated that a decision on the options at this location could be made by the end of July. Maria FitzGerald, RPA Archaeologist ******************************************************** St. Brigid's Well, Mullingar ******************************************************* St. Brigid Well, Liscannor, Co. Clare Dave Walsh has a wonderful slide show of photos of Brigid's Well at Liscannor. DO go and have a look. He says: Wall and crosses at St. Brigid's Well, Liscannor, Co. Clare On the Liscannor - Doolin road, near the Cliffs of Moher, this ostens- ibly holy well is full of wonderful, decaying votive offerings. St. Brigid never actually existed in Christian times - in mythology she was the "exalted one" - daughter of the Dagda and therefore one of the Tua- tha De Danann.....The "cave" at St. Brigit's Well is full of strange ob- jects. Decaying statues, rotting dolls, faded masscards, abandoned prosthetic limbs, rosary beads, toys, polaroid photographs.... Other photographers images of Liscannor: ********************************** Brigid’s Well, Tully, County Kildare, Ireland ******************************************************* Killare, Co. Westmeath John Smyth has a lovely series of photos of this well. He says: > Westmeath > St Brigid's Well, Killare St. Brigid's Well, at Killare, Co. Westmeath. It's near the legendary Hill of Uisneach, and the easiest way to visit the well is to park at the nearby Uisneach Inn and walk back to it. ***************************************************** Faughart Upper Church graveyard, Dundalk: St. Brigid's Well In some traditions, Faughart is St. Brigid's birthplace: "St Brigid was born in a quiet village named "Faughart" set upon a hill over looking Dundalk Bay. She was born about the year 454 A.D." Muire na nGael First Woman of Ireland From the site of Scoil Phádraig Naofa: "a small, Irish, rural school located near the east coast on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Our nearest towns are Dundalk and Newry." ******************************** Brigid's Wells in Ireland: St Bride’s Well Kilbride parish, Co. Mayo St. Brigid’s Well Ardagh, Co. Longford St. Brigid’s Well Buttevant, Co. Cork St. Brigid’s Well Castlemanger, Co. Cork St. Bridid’s Well Chiffony, Co. Sligo St. Brigid’s Well Dunteer, Co. Louth St. Bridid’s Well Faughart, Co. Louth St. Brigid’s Well Inismagrath parish, Co. Leitrim St. Brigid’s Well Killinagh parish, Co. Cavin St. Brigid’s Well Kilranelagh parish, Co. Carlow St. Brigid’s Well Liscannor, Co. Clare St. Brigid’s Well Marlerstown ,Co Louth St. Brigid’s Well Mullingar, Co. Westmeath St. Brigid’s Well Outeragh parish,Co. Leitrim St. Brigid’s Well Tully, Co. Kildare -Source: The Holy Wells of Ireland. Patrick Logan, Colin Smythe, Gerrards Cross,1980 ******************************** Irish Culture Site Mary Ellen Sweeney BellaOnline's Irish Culture Editor Holy Wells in Ireland Once, when Mr. Sweeney and I were driving around a hairpin turn in Sligo, between Boyle and Donegal, the hair on my head stood up and I got goose bumps on my arms. I joked that we must have passed a fairy place. (That would be me, making light of the unknown.) As we moved farther into the turn, there was a little sign, crudely hand-lettered, point- ing back to where we had passed. It read, “Holy Well.” He looked at me and I looked at him, and he believed me. I knew of such wells, of course, but they’re like leprechauns, you don’t really believe in them until you see one. Somehow it’s a little embarrass- ing to admit such beliefs in modern times. It was all right for Granny maybe, who had a prayer, a rhyme, and a charm for every occasion, but for a 21st- century grown-up? Not so much. Just a lot of old superstitious nonsense! But come here to me. Holy Wells have been around since long before the arrival of Saint Patrick and the message of Christianity. They have lost none of their power through the many changings of the guard in Ireland. The druids used the waters to promote health and well-being. The ancient Celts understood that these places were powerful and attributed this power to the Otherworld, the spiritual source of everything. It is this power that has people visiting Holy Wells to this day. There are Holy Wells all over Ireland. Each of them has a story. One is good for conception and another will surely cure the blind. I don’t know how much stock can be placed in all these claims, but there are many who swear to the truth of cures, conceptions, and insights after visits to Holy Wells. Some of the wells are said to contain salmon from tales of the great sal- mon of wisdom that come through to us from the times of the ancient eroes. The Salmon of Wisdom is an essential part of a well's magical properties. The practice of "paying rounds" (circling the well three times still practiced at holy wells. In the Saint Monachan well in Kerry there is said to be a salmon and an eel, and whoever sees them will benefit from having done the rounds, whether they seek health, wealth, or special intention. Pilgrimages to Holy Wells often take place on the special days: St. Brigid’s Day on the first of February, also the date of the old Celtic feast of Imbolc. This saint was once the Celtic goddess, Brighde, (Pronounced, breedge, like brie cheese with a “d” and “g” sound at the end.); Beltane, May 1; Lughnasa, August 1; and All Souls' Day, also known as Samhain, November 1, when it was believed that the veil between the living and the dead was at its most transparent. All of these are special days in the Celtic calendar and it was/is believed that the doors to the Otherworld are open at these times. Churches were often built near or above the Holy Wells. The early Celtic church used the waters for baptism. The Roman church did away with this practice and decreed that a font inside the church be used. A number of old churches contain a crypt or grotto that opens into a subterranean spring. This place---close to earth and water---is a hidden holy center of the sacred enclosure. St. Brigid has many Holy Wells named for her. This is a list of just a few of them: St Bride’s Well, Kilbride parish, Co. Mayo, St. Brigid’s Well, Ardagh, Co. Longford; St. Brigid’s Well, Castlemanger, Co. Cork; St. Brigid’s, Well Chiffony, Co. Sligo; St. Brigid’s Well, Dunteer, Co. Louth; St. Brigid's Well, Inismagrath Parish, Co. Leitrim. Some day ask me about "Oh Blessed Saint Ann." Holy wells exist in most counties of Ireland. Cork, Kerry, Clare, Kil- dare, Sligo, Meath, and Roscommon have many. Should you wish to visit, here are some locations... (list can be found at end of original article.)