What better way to ring in the springtime after a long winter than a picnic to celebrate – but Colmcille’s plans are in danger of being scuppered when he forgets to bring along a picnic blanket. That’s where the story of St Brigid’s cloak comes in.
You can listen to the two-part show here now!
Image: Screenshot of RTÉ Jr audio file, St Brigid’s Cloak Part 1.
Brigit of the mantles, Brigit of the peat-heap, Brigit of the twining hair, Brigit of the augury.
Brigit of the white feet, Brigit of the calmness, Brigit of the white palms, Brigit of the kine.
Brigit, woman-comrade, Brigit of the peat-heap, Brigit, woman-helper, Brigit, woman mild.
Brigit, own tress of Mary, Brigit, Nurse of Christ, Each day and each night That I say the Descent of Brigit,
I shall not be slain, I shall not be wounded, I shall not be put in cell, I shall not be gashed,
I shall not be torn in sunder, I shall not be despoiled, I shall not be down-trodden,
I shall not be made naked, I shall not be rent, Nor will Christ Leave me forgotten
Nor sun shall burn me, Nor fire shall burn me, Nor beam shall burn me, Nor moon shall burn me.
Nor river shall drown me, Nor brine shall drown me, Nor flood shall drown me, Nor water shall drown me.
Nightmare shall not lie on me, Black sleep shall not lie on me, Spell sleep shall not lie on me, “ Luaths-luis” shall not lie on me.
I am under the keeping Of my Saint Mary, My companion, beloved Brigit.
From Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations, in Gaelic with English translations, Volume III. Collected byAlexander Carmichael.
