Irish Books That Mention Brigit

IRISH BOOKS THAT MENTION BRIGIT/ST BRIGIT
by Beryl Baigent

• Adair, John. The Pilgrims’ Way: Shrines and Saints in Britain and Ireland. London: Thames and Hudson, 1978. An academic version of the pilgrimage which cover Downpatrick as the possible grave site of Brigit.
• Asala, Joanne. Irish Saints and Sinners. New York: Sterling, 1995. Legends of St. Bridgit.
• Berresford Ellis, Peter. Celtic Women. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1995. References to Brigantia, the goddess Brigid, and Brigid of Kildare.
• ----. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. London: Constable, 1992. Dictionary entries for Brigantia, and Brigid, a triune goddess.
• Brenneman, Walter L. Jnr., and Mary G. Brenneman. Crossing the Circle at the Holy Wells of Ireland. Charlottesville & London: University Press of Virginia, 1995. Text on St. Brigid’s wells at Cliffony, Co. Sligo, Armagh Demesne, Co. Armagh, Liscannor, Co. Clare, Kildare, Co. Kildare, and Killaire, Co. Westmeath, with illustrations.
• Bull, Sam (Editor). Let’s Go Ireland 1998. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998. St. Brigid’s cathedral, Kildare.
• Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish saved Civilization. New York: Doubleday, 1995. Brigid of Kildare discussed.
• Carmichel, Alexander. Carmina Gadelica. Hudson, New York: Lindisfarne Press, 1992. Prayers to Brigid.
• Daly, K. S. Ireland: An Encyclopedia for the Bewildered. London: Aurum, n/d. Dictionary references to St. Brigid and to her connection with cattle.
• Davis, Courtney Davis. The Art of Celtia. London: Blandford, 1993. References and artwork for Brighid, Bride, Brigid. “The blue mantle of Bride is her banner shaken out over the expectant heavens.”
• ---- and David James. The Celtic Image. London: Blandford, 1997. Brigid and the Festivals, with art work.
• Duffy, Sean (Editor). The Macmillan Atlas of Irish History. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. Reference to St. Brigid.
• Green, Marian. A Calendar of Festivals. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element, 1991. The feast of Brigit, Imbolc, February 1.
• Jenner, Michael. Ireland through the Ages. London: Claremont, 1992. St. Brigit with photograph of well at Kildare.
• Johnson, Cait and Maura D. Shaw. Celebrating the Great Mother. Rochester, Vermont: Destiny, 1995. Imbolc and “The Lady of Light.”
• Kendrick, T. D. The Druids. London: Senate, 1994. Mentions tending the holy fire at Kildare until the suppression of the monasteries by King Henry V111.
• Lovell, Richard. Ireland 100 Years Ago. London: Bracken, 1995. St. Brigid’s church and round tower, Kildare sketched, on a tour from Dublin to Cork. References to St. Brigit and Kildare.
• MacAnnaidh, Seamus. Irish History. Bath: Paragon, 1999. St. Brigid of Kildare with photographs of and cathedral and stained glass window.
• Matthews, Caitlin. The Celtic Book of Days. Rochester, Vermont: Destiny, 1995. Brighid/Brigit at Imbolc.
• ----. The Celtic Tradition. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element, 1989. Brigit as goddess of wisdom, daughter of the Dagda.
• ----. The Celtic Tradition. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element, 1995. Full colour and black and white illustrations including J. Duncan’s painting of St. Brigit being carried by the angels as mid-wife to the lying-in of Mary. Also the story of the nineteen nuns lighting the candles at Kildare. Brigit as mother of memory.
• ---- and John. Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element: 1994. Brighid as matron of augury, matron of healing, soul-guardian, ninefold blessing, and poets mystically descended from.
• Matthews, John. Drinking from the Sacred Well. San Francisco: Harper, 1998. A full chapter on Brighid of Kildare. The life of Brighid in which one learns of the importance of the feminine spirit in our lives.
• Minehan, Rita. Rekindling the Flame: A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare. Kildare: Solas Bhride Community, 1999. Written by the sisters of Solas Bhride. A fully comprehensive telling of the history and all the sites connected with Brigit in Kildare. Also contains meditations on Brigit.
• Moorhouse, Geoffrey. Sun Dancing. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1997. A wonderful book on Celtic sites and spirituality.
• Nichols, Ross. The Book of Druidry. London: Harper Collins/Thorson, 1990. Many references to Brighid.
• O’Hara, Gwydion. Moonlore. St. Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn, 1992. Brigit the Enchantress as a Lunar Dignitary.
• Paterson, The Very Reverend John. Kildare: The Cathedral; Church of St. Brigid. Published by the cathedral, n/d. Notes on the history compiled by the Dean of Kildare.
• Pennick, Nigel. The Pagan Book of Days. Rochester, Vermont: Destiny, 1992. Several references, including a discussion on Brigantia, and Imbolc.
• Shaw, Carol P. Famous Irish Lives. Glasgow: Harper Collins, 1996. St. Bridget abbess and bishop c. 450-523.
• Sheehy, Jeanne. The Rediscovery of Ireland’s Past: The Celtic Revival 1830 - 1930. London: Thames and Hudson, 1980. John Lavery’s (1856-1941) painting of Madonna and Child, flanked by St. Brigid and St. Patrick discussed, along with the stained glass of William Henry Lynn (1829-1915), one window of which pictures St. Brigid. .
• Sierra, Judy. Celtic Baby Names. Eugene, Oregon: Folkprint, 1997. Brid, Brighid names discussed in terms of the Irish goddess, abbess of Kildare, and as sisters of the Tuatha De Danaan.
• Slavin, Michael. The Book of Tara. Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 1996. In a discussion of the sacred hill of Tara, Brighid is mentioned as the earth-mother fire goddess and the medieval convent dedicated to her at Odder. It is also noted that she is mentioned in the Glossary of King Cormac, which was transcribed from the oral tradition in the 10th century. (A great book, I met the author last year.)
• Stewart, R. J. Celtic Gods Celtic Goddesses. London: Blandford, 1990. Brighid, St. Bride, Brigitte likened to Minerva, and as foster mother of Jesus. Also folklore of Brigit.
• Touchstone Pottery. Celtic Art: Fine Porcelain. Antigonish, Nova Scotia: Touchstone, n/d. Illustrates two pins of Brigantia/Brigit with text.
• Wilde, Lady. Irish Cures, Mystic Charms & Superstitions. New York: Sterling, 1991. St. Brigit’s charm against the evil eye. St. Brigit’s Day charm.