Brat Bríde

Anois teacht an Earraigh
Beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh
Is tar éis Féile Bride,
Ardóidh me mo sheol!



Now comes the spring
The days will grow longer
And after St. Bríd’s day
I will raise my sail!


It's St Brigid's Eve, and it's that time of year when her distinctive crosses are made in order to bless the house.  Aaarghhhh. That's all I can say.  Apparently Herself sat calmly at the bedside of a dying pagan and amused herself by weaving crosses from the rushes on the floor. I just hope I never find myself in a similar situation for I shall be useless, the atmosphere would not be something you would want at your deathbed. Himself however whipped up a very professional looking offering - spot the difference. The postbox/shrine is suitably adorned. No sign of the Masai warrior though.

This attractive display is in one of the charity shops in Bantry and I think they've done a fine job - good looking cross too. The cloak is full of meaning - you do want to know what don't you? Brigid decided to build a convent on land near Kildare, Unfortunately it belonged to the King of Leinster. She asked him if she could have some of the land, he jovially asked how much. As much as my cloak can cover. she quipped. The King was amused and agreed - as Brigid spread her cloak over the ground it grew and grew until it covered what is now known as the Curragh, a race course!  She got her convent too. 

Tonight it's traditional to leave out the Brat Bríde, a small piece of cloth in remembrance of her cloak. Its believed that she is out an about and might imbue it with healing powers, good for headaches and sore throats.. 


Her feast day welcomes in the Spring ( we live in hope, grey mizzle today) and comes in the wake of a much older pre-Christian festival, Imbolg. It's a Brigid weekend here too and the 1500th anniversary of her death, so it's all happening.

Incidentally St Brigid is patron saint of Ireland (we have three),  blacksmiths, babies, boatmen, dairymaids, fugitives, mariners,  nuns, poets, printing presses, sailors, scholars - and Florida!