About Brigid

Brigid Goddess Or Saint?

The history of the saint is the stuff of mythology and it's hard to distinguish where the goddess ends and the saint begins, so intertwined are the two. Like all good Saints and Goddesses, she is possessed of many dualities, humble yet powerful (tales of her power are many), born to riches but chose to renounce wealth in order to serve the poor.

As goddess, she was the patroness of all creative things and had a particular association with blacksmiths. It was thought that the man who could shape metal had great powers. When one considers the process of blacksmithing in terms of tools and beautiful objects, it's little wonder that the blacksmith and indeed Brigid herself were held in such high esteem.

Brigid’s Perpetual Flame

It is said that her flame was kept alight for over a thousand years but was extinguished during the time of Cromwell. It was relit in the 1970's and has reminded burning ever since in Kildare, the city that was built around the great Abbey she founded in County Kildare. After her death, the fire by her Abbey wall was tended only by women, as was her wish.

Restored foundation of Brigid's ancient fire temple on the north side of her Cathedral in Kildare. A fire is often lit here in her honor on Brigid's Feast on Feb. 1st.

Kildare Cathedral

Brigid: Protector of Animals

Like all the Irish Fire Festivals, hers is celebrated in the heart of the season on February 1st. Since it was the time for the birthing of lambs and domestic animals, it marked the rebirth of the agricultural year. Saint Brigid was seen as protector of domestic animals.