HOLIDAYS in IRELAND

 Galway fields surrounded by our famous stone walls, and our sheep enjoying the sunshine in the fine weather. Our Winter has been very kind to us this year so far. Long may it last. 

Today is a big day in Ireland as we celebrate the feast of St Bridgid, our patroness saint. Everybody knows our patron, St Patrick, but i think that outside Ireland not too many know about St Bridgid.  She was born in County Kildare in the fourth century , not long after the time of St Patrick, and from a very early age she wanted to be a nun, but her father, who was a very powerful and very wealthy man, saw in her a great asset, as she was very beautiful, and by marrying her off into another powerful family it would increase his own power and wealth. This was the custom at that time. She however did not want that and prayed that she would lose her beauty so that she could then become the nun that she wanted to be. This did happen, some say she scarred her own face, but that is speculation, but the fact still remains that she did get her way and became a nun. Her mission there after was to spread the word, and this she did with amazing results. As she travelled around Ireland, she settled for periods in many different places, always close to a spring well, which became holy wells when she moved on, and many of these wells are still believed to be places where many miracles have taken place, since, and still do happen. Many people have a great and very strong belief in this, and people still claim that she is working miracles to this day. 

She became very much associated with the land, farming communities, the poor, and especially women, and her love of animals was such that many people pray to Brigid when they have a sick animal. 

Devotion to St Brigid seems to be growing daily throughout Ireland  nowadays, so much so that from next year onwards the government is creating a new special bank holiday devoted to her. In this day and age, that is truly a remarkable happening, and i believe one that at this time the way our world is going, something that is indeed badly needed.

I think you just might enjoy Googling St Brigid today as her story is fascinating. You can read abut the miracle she performed with her cloak which she miraculously spread out over the land in County Kildare to convince the king to give her the land she needed to build her first convent. This he did, and afterwards he was baptised and became a Christian.

I wish you all a happy and blessed St Brigids day.