The Story of St. Brigit (Brigit/Brigid/Bríd) St. Brigit was born in AD 450 in Faughart, near Dundalk in Co. Louth. Her father, Dubhthach, was a pagan chieftain of Leinster and her mother, Broicsech, was a Christian. It was thought that Brigid’s mother was born in Portugal but was kidnapped by Irish pirates and brought to Ireland to work as a slave. She lived during the time of St. Patrick and was inspired by his preaching.
When Brigid turned eighteen, she was freed from her father’s house and joined the convent. Legend says that she prayed that her beauty would be taken away from her so no one would seek her hand in marriage; her prayer was granted. Brigid entered the convent and received her veil from St. Macaille.
Brigid founded many convents all over Ireland; the most famous one was in Co. Kildare. It is said that this convent was built beside an oak tree where the town of Kildare now stands. Kildare in Gaelic is Cill Dara meaning church of the oak. Around AD 470 she also founded a double monastery, for nuns and monks, in Kildare. As Abbess of this foundation she wielded considerable power, but was a very wise and prudent superior. The Abbey of Kildare became one of the most prestigious monasteries in Ireland, and was famous throughout Christian Europe.
St. Brigid's Cross: Making a St. Brigid’s cross is one of the traditional rituals in Ireland to celebrate the beginning of early spring, 1st February. The crosses are made of rushes that are pulled rather than cut. They are hung by the door and in the rafters to protect the house from fire and evil. According to tradition a new cross is made each St Brigid's Day, and the old one is burned to keep fire from the house.
Legend tells us that a pagan chieftain near Kildare was dying. St Brigit was called to his bedside to comfort him. As was custom at the time the floor was strewn with rushes. St Brigit began to make a cross from the rushes, explaining about Christ and she converted the chieftain before he died.
St. Brigid died in AD 525 at the age of 75 and was buried in a tomb before the High Altar of her Abbey church. After some time, her remains were exhumed and transferred to Downpatrick to rest with the two other patron saints of Ireland, St. Patrick and St. Columcille. Her skull was extracted and brought to Lisbon, Portugal by two Irish noblemen, and it remains there to this day. St. Brigid is the female patron saint of Ireland. She is also known as Muire na nGael or Mary of the Gael which means Our Lady of the Irish. Her feast day is the 1st of February which is the first day of spring in Ireland.
The legend of St Brigit’s Cloak: St. Brigid went to the King of Leinster to ask for land to build a convent. There was a forest nearby for wood, a lake nearby for water and the land was fertile. The king laughed and refused to give her any land. Brigit prayed to God and asked him to soften the king’s heart. The king felt sorry for her and offered her as much land as her cloak would cover. St Brigit went outside and shook out her cloak which grew and grew and grew, covering many acres. The king was astonished, believing he had witnessed a miracle. He gave her the land and in time became a Christian himself.
The Shrine
Upon entering Tobar Bhride, there is a small devotional shrine. Just past the small devotional shrine is the spring marked by a stone arch. This is the first station. Water flows through two oval shaped stones. The bronze statue of St Brigid lifting the eternal flame is near to the arch.
Past the arch are five standing stones or stations that represent a part of Brigid’s nature.
First stone – Brigid the woman of Ireland, the patroness, the protector of a beloved country.
Second stone – Brigid the peacemaker, healing division, bringing forward unity.
Third stone – Brigid the friend of the poor, advocate of the marginalised.
Fourth stone – Brigid the hearthwoman, keeping the home flame burning.
Fifth stone – Brigid the woman of contemplation, which leads to wisdom.
The holy well behind the five standing stones is the seventh station.
It is a tradition that if one takes holy water from the well then one should leave something. People often leave something belonging to the person for whom they are praying. Examples of this can be seen in the tree behind the well.
The Puzzle: Tobar Bhríde
A In which county is Sruth Bhríde?
B What did Brigit join when she turned eighteen?
C Which stone represents Brigit the hearthwoman
D Which tree was considered to be sacred in pre-Christian Ireland?
The cache can be found at n53 08.AB0 w006 54.CDD
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