Our next CHAS lecture is by Dr Elizabeth Dawson from Carlow College on St Brigit is scheduled for 16 April 2025 at 8 pm in the Seven Oaks Hotel. All are welcome, and admission is free.
Dr Elizabeth Dawson is a medieval historian with expertise in the early medieval history of Ireland. She has lectured at University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and most recently, Carlow College, St. Patrick’s. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the NUI Grant for Early Career Academics and IRC postdoctoral fellowship. She has worked with the Discovery Programme, the UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and the Royal Irish Academy.
It is said, St. Brigit was born around 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 Brigit’s mother was born in Portugal but was kidnapped by Irish pirates and brought to Ireland to work as a slave, just like St. Patrick was. Brigid’s father named her after one of the most powerful goddesses of the pagan religion – the goddess of fire, whose manifestations were song, craftsmanship, and poetry, which the Irish considered the flame of knowledge. He kept Brigit and her mother as slaves even though he was a wealthy man. Brigit spent her earlier life cooking, cleaning, washing and feeding the animals on her father’s farm.
She lived during the time of St.Patrick and was inspired by his preachings, and she became a Christian. When Brigit turned eighteen, she stopped working for her father. Brigit’s father wanted her to find a husband but Brigit had decided that she would spend her life working for God by looking after poor, sick and elderly people. 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’s charity angered her father because he thought she was being too generous to the poor. When she finally gave away his jewel-encrusted sword to a leper, her father realised that she would be best suited to the religious life. Brigit finally got her wish and entered the convent. She received her veil from St. Macaille and made her vows to dedicate her life to God. Legend also says that Brigit regained her beauty after making her vows and that God made her more beautiful than ever. News of Brigit’s good works spread and soon many young girls from all over the country joined her in the convent. Brigit 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. Around 470 AD 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. Brigit also founded a school of art, including metalwork and illumination, over which St. Conleth presided. In the scriptorium of the monastery, the famous illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kildare, was created. Dr. Liz will likely know what is relevant, what is hearsay and so on.
Leave a Reply