Irish women should follow St. Brigid, not just St. Patrick

In any event, a positive figure contra to toxic anglo-materialism.

I always thought they got equal reverence by the fact these two Saints were always taught to us. I dont feel that using one or other,depending on gender applies.St Bridgid was a healing ,non judgmental, understanding Saint. She was a refuge for women in need. To separate her in terms of applying to women deepens any divisions through old mindsets.Her life is an example to all men and women to follow

Dia dhuit a jacersagain! Hopefully I will be able to visit Ireland and see St. Brigid's Well. I find all the ancient history fascinating. I have read that there have been St. Brigid's of succeeding generations that literally carried the torch for the original abbess. I mean they kept the eternal flame going. I understand that the original Brigid was the Goddess of fire (the hearth). Really interesting.

Dunno how the double post happened... apologies, it t'wasn't my fawlt.. weeely. Oh no it wasn't... oh yes it was!... Oh shut up! I'm glad I'm using my old trusty laptop... You know those cheap phones you can get for your kids that keep them in touch with you but stop them getting onto the internet and all its badness while running up bills on you? Well, not for me the new iTouchpad allegedly invented by Apple for kids to stop huge parent bills called the iTouchKidspad. I dread to think who might have bought it...

(…more) But if you want to visit St. Brigid’s grave and pray to her for her intercession before our Christ the King in your life's troubles, you will have to travel to Downpatrick, located in the beautiful Mourne Mountains in County Down in Nth Ireland, where her remains lie under a giant stone marking the final resting place of the remains of Saints Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille, the so-called trinity of founders of Christianity in Ireland. You will get a triple blessing in one 'cos... Legend has it that there was a prophecy that these three saints, who were buried in different parts of Ireland, would one day be united in one grave – and so it happened (you can find out how that happened, historically, when you get there). As one ancient poetic account says “In Down, three saints one grave do fill, Patrick, Brigid and Columcille”.

(…more) But if you want to visit St. Brigid’s grave and pray to her for her intercession in your life's troubles, you will have to travel to Downpatrick, located in the beautiful Mourne Mountains in County Down in Nth Ireland, where her remains lie under a giant stone marking the final resting place of the remains of Saints Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille, the so-called trinity of founders of Christianity in Ireland. You will get a triple blessing in one 'cos... Legend has it that there was a prophecy that these three saints, who were buried in different parts of Ireland, would one day be united in one grave – and so it happened (you can find out how it happened, historically, when you get there). As one ancient poetic account says “In Down, three saints one grave do fill, Patrick, Brigid and Columcille”.

@ Searlit 11.37am – Yes, that statue is in County Kildare, Sth Ireland, where St. Brigid founded a convent and monastery. Legend has it that she lit a candle, a flame to honour Christ, the everlasting Redeemer, and asked for the flame to be kept everlastingly alive (like they do in under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and in the USA’s Arlington Graveyard in honour of fallen soldiers of all wars). The photo is of her statue holding an everlasting burning flame (not an ice cream cone, as handsome68 imagines, though I’m pretty sure Brigid enjoyed the odd ice-cream of her day) but if you visit Kildare and St. Brigid’s ancient convent/monastery place, you will find an actual, live flickering flame burning there still, just as in Paris and Arlington. (More…)

There is a lot of information around in Ireland and on the internet about St. Brigid of Ireland; most of it written down from traditional, handed-down-through-the-centuries vocal stories of St. Brigid (like the traditional vocal stories of St. Nicholas (in Latin, San Nicolas), the secret gift-giver, all wrapped up as today’s Santa Claus). Like many people in Ireland, I continue to have a St. Brigid’s Cross, made of straw as made by St. Brigid, over my home’s entrance door – to greet visitors coming into my house and to bless them as they leave, as St. Brigid wished for all.

I am a bit surprised you did not mention that when Bridget received her vows the wrong one was read and she was ordained a Bishop, when it was realized what had happened it was too late for change. This might be a myth but it was passed on to me as fact.

I am a bit surprised you did not mention that when Bridget received her vows the wrong one was read and she was ordained a Bishop, when it was realized what had happened it was too late for change. This might be a myth but it was passed on to me as fact.

I am a bit surprised you did not mention that when Bridget received her vows the wrong one was read and she was ordained a Bishop, when it was realized what had happened it was too late for change. This might be a myth but it was passed on to me as fact.

wtf. I have not been getting Irish Central email for a while now, I happened to mention it someone his reply was, “you must be disagreeing with them, maybe pointing a few facts that did not fit the real story” Now I ask could that be true? I always thought you would be looking for truth in media not just what agreed with your political view. Was I wrong? I guess I better play along, great story I love every word of it so well written and shure she was Irish and God knows where that Patrick buck came from, more, write more you can change the world.

Irish women should read further than church teachings and follow the original Brighid, daughter of Dagda of the Tuatha d Dannun. She was the magickal one, the one the monastery was founded for and the path to the well still bears non christian symbols.

Thank You, Niall! And NJGK01. Also Susan Byron's illuminating researched history of and ancient and pre-medieval 'Brigid. Way to begin this Day...

An increasing number of ‘lost’ books and records (more accurately long hidden from destruction and then forgotten) of the historical Brigid of Kildare have surfaced over the last two or three years and it’s readily apparent that the life, work and memory of the actual Brigid is a serious victim that was nearly wiped out by centuries of sacking, invaders and occupation (as was Gaelic itself too). As I find access to these books and records that detail the historical lady of Kildare and read more about her, I find it saddening and frustrating that such oppression and systematic destruction took one of the extraordinary women of early Ireland and very nearly erased it to the point ‘popular culture’ believe Saint Brigid is the goddess Brigid and not a young lady named after the deity who devoted herself to Christianity. Hopefully, as with the focused dedication to preserve and resurrect the Irish language, there will be dedication to bringing Brigid back too so future generations can preserve the memory of this great woman of early Ireland. Gene King