Irish Radio Canada

St Brigit of Kildare (451–c. 525) is Ireland’s most renowned female saint and abbess, and one of the country’s three national patrons, alongside St Patrick and St Colmcille. Her name is preserved in numerous placenames, holy wells, churches, and streets throughout Ireland, Britain, and continental Europe. Medieval manuscripts containing accounts of her life, hymns in Latin and Irish, and chants for her Office, which celebrates her feast day on February 1st, bear witness to her enduring legacy. Since the 19th century, missionaries, migrants, scholars, and educators have carried Brigit’s name across the globe, including to the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Affectionately known by many as ‘Mary of the Gael,’ ‘Laurel of Ireland,’ and ‘Flame of Ireland,’ Brigit is widely recognized as a figure for modern times. Her faith, conviction, charitable works, concern for the natural world, care for animals, and remarkable resilience and diplomacy are celebrated. Her most notable achievement remains the foundation of her renowned monastery at Kildare (Cill Dara). In 2023, Ireland officially began to celebrate her legacy with a new public holiday named in her honour. The lecture will begin with an overview of Brigit’s historical impact in Ireland and beyond, highlighting the myriad places associated with her memory, including in Britain and continental Europe. This will be followed by an in-depth look at her Office, which survives in unique Irish manuscripts, illustrating how she was venerated through storytelling, song, and prayer during the Middle Ages. The presentation will be richly illustrated with visual images and sound recordings.