My Cuppa Irish Tea: St. Brigid of Kildare

St. Brigid was born in 450 in County Louth. He father was a pagan chieftain of Leinster and her mother, was a Christian. Her father named Brigid after one of the most powerful goddesses of the pagan religion - the goddess of fire. He kept Brigid and her mother as slaves.

Brigid lived during the time of St. Patrick and was inspired by his preachings which led her to become a Christian. When she turned 18, she stopped working for her father. Her father wanted her to find a husband, but Brigid decided she wanted her life to work for God by looking after the poor, sick, and elderly people. Legend says that she prayed that her beauty would be taken away from her so no one would want to marry her; her prayer was granted. Later her father realized it would be best for Brigid to be in the religious life. She entered the convent and received her veil from St. Macaille and made her vows. News of Brigid's good works spread and soon many girls from all over the country joined her. Brigid founded many convents all over Ireland; the most famous one was in Kildare. It is said that this convent was built next to an oak tree where the town of Kildare now stands. Around 470 she founded a monastery for nuns and monks in Kildare. She was the Abbess of this foundation which back then was considered a powerful position. The Abbey of Kildare became one of the most prestigious monasteries in Ireland, and was famous throughout Christian Europe.

Kildare is about 30 minutes outside of Dublin so we decided to drive out there for the day and see the St. Brigit sites. It was a nice and sunny day so I knew we had to take advantage of days like this.

St. Brigid's Cross on the road entering Kildare. Yes I stuck my head out the
window in the middle of an intersection to take this photo.

St. Brigid is now one of Ireland's patron saints, and is patron of farmers and poor pastoral workers. Some say that St. Brigid's religious community was where the Kildare Cathedral is now located and some say it was in the village (which are both right next to each other). 13th century buildings now occupy the spot along with the round tower, oratory, and fire pit which date back to the pagan times. Many think that St. Brigid kept a flame burning in the fire pit as a devotion to the Holy Spirit. The flame was blown out during the Henry VIII times and more recently has been lit again by the Brigidine sisters who live nearby.

St. Brigid's Cathedral

The original abbey church would have been a simple wooden building in the late 400's. This cathedral was ruined they think at least 16 times. In 1230 it was largely rebuilt, and then again in 1500, and 1686. The style of the church is what they call Irish Gothic. Its a cruciform shape without the aisles. When we got here there was a wedding going on so we just walked around the grounds until it was over. Again, this church is now part of the Church of Ireland. I really wish they would give some of these churches back to the Catholics.

St. Brigid's flame

Round tower at the cathedral

This is right next to the exterior wall of the cathedral

Entrance to St. Brigid's Kitchen

This is the inside - maybe an oven?

the other end of the kitchen...i also saw another sign that said this was a vault/kitchen

Kildare Coat of Arms

The wedding was over and it looks like they
hired an ice cream truck for after the ceremony

Interior of the Cathedral

This was used for baptism

Tomb of Walter Wellesley - Augustian Friar and Bishop of Kildare. He died in 1539 and was buried in his priory. His body was not found until 1971 and moved into the cathedral. Its interesting that the Church of Ireland wanted his body in the cathedral since Wellesley was against Henry VIII and his priory was dissolved after he died by Cromwell. But he was a famous Irish scholar and firm upholder of English rule in Ireland.