"Mary of the Gael — A Song of St Brigid” written and sung by Carmel Boyle

  

This is a beautiful and heartfelt song to Saint Brigit, written and sung by the talented Irish singer/songwriter Carmel Boyle. Sung from the point of view of a modern petitioner, it is inspired by ancient prayers. Carmel is co-founder of An Croí Wisdom Institute & Celtic Spirit Centre, Drogheda, Ireland.  www.ancroi.ie

 “Carmel Boyle sings Mary of the Gael A Song of St Brigid” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlsofT4lfuQ

***

Carmel also has an online retreat, accessible when you wish, called “Three Songs for Brigid.” I haven’t taken it, but it looks interesting. You can find out more by contacting her through https://ancroi.ie/. Bear in mind that this will be a Christian retreat, like as not.

Below is an image of a brown card with a photo of snowdrops and the words:

Online retreat. Retreat in your own space at your own time; Three Songs for Brigid with singer/songwriter and spiritual director Carmel Boyle. Video sessions and resources can be accessed for one week on the An Croí learning platform, beginning the day you commence retreat. Donation €55

If anyone reading this does do the retreat, I would love to learn more about it, and what you get out of it. 

“Ó a Bhríd – Ode to Brigid” (Susan Quirke and Enda Gallery)

 

What a beautiful, moving, wonderful chant. It brings ease to my troubled heart. “Ó a Bhríd – Ode to Brigid” is here.

From Susan Quirke’s YouTube site:

This track was commissioned by the Herstory Educational Trust to write a piece of music in honour of Brigid for St. Brigid's Day, 2024. 

In her own words; 'Since landing home from Australia I have been making music with Enda Gallery deep in the hills of Kilfernora in County Clare. We have co-written and co-produced an Irish meditative mantra in our own native tongue, 11 minutes and 33 seconds long, imbued with love, the rhythm of a heartbeat through the sound of the bodhrán, magic and mysticism to honour the Spirit of Brigid and our homeland of Éire. The song flowed peacefully through us as we sang our vocals through the light of a flame. In honour of Brigid and her sacred symbols, we have the sound of fire crackling throughout the track. We also recorded the water from St. Brigit's well in Liscannor to balance the sound with running water from the well.

The song is also created at 432hz, known as a healing frequency.

 LYRICS 

Tabhair dom do lámh 

Oscail mo chroí 

Ag athrú ar nós crann 

Ciúin ar nós uisce domhain 

Ó a Bhríd Bríd”

 ---- English translation: 

Give me your hand 

Open my heart 

Changing like a tree 

Quiet as deep water 

Ó a Bhríd Bríd

Image: Woman and man lighting candles at Liscannor St. Brigid’s well.

Elaine Ní Chiardha's "Brigid of the Flame"

 Elaine Ní Chiardha of Singing the Land has a beautiful song to Brigit, called "Brigid of the Flame." You can listen to the full version on YouTube or learn the chant derived from it on SoundCloud.

If you would like to learn more about Elaine and "Songs for St. Brigid and St. Patrick," listen to her interview with Amy Panetta on The Celtic Feminine Podcast.

Image: "Tara Hill, Tarahill, County Wexford, Ireland" by James Butterly (@jamesbutterly) on Unsplash.

Many Voices - Book Launch & Celebration of Brigit

 

What a beautiful event that was. I am very happy that I took a leaf from Geraldine Moorkens Byrne's book and turned my launch into a community celebration. I briefly introduced the launch, then read four short poems before sitting back to watch and listen as friends from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, and the United States read and sang from their hearts to and about Brigit. It was very moving. A joyful and precious time.

The launch was held on Zoom (with ticketing help from the wonderful Ticket Tailor) and livestreamed to Facebook Live. I am happy to say that we can watch it (or rewatch it!) any time on Facebook at Brigit's Portal (my Page) or on YouTube.

Image: Mael Brigde, a white woman in a red dress, wearing black earphones, smiles as she speaks to her computer.

"Brigid's Land" Fundraising Song for Tearmainn Women's Refuge

 

This is Col Patterson's latest single, Brigid's Land, it's a really beautiful and uplifting song.

The song had been released as a charity single for Teach Tearmainn Women's Refuge in Kildare town, a hugely important facility, and who are really struggling for funds at the moment.

Col approached Claire Patterson to create a video for the song.

The single is getting great support, and is currently riding at no 6 in the RTE 1 playlist charts... ahead of Bruce Springsteen no less, which is fantastic news!

The donations page for the single is open until October 23rd, and we're really hoping to attract as much support as we can. We're currently just a little over €1,500, and would love to see this rise.

Naturally we realise it's a tough time financially for a lot of people, but even to get the message of the song out there as far as possible helps too.

We'd really appreciate you sharing the song, video, and donations page with your communities if you feel comfortable doing so. I will follow up again on Facebook, and connect you with the posts there too.

The song and video are available here: https://vimeo.com/465831955

And the fundraising page is available here.

Copied from the Brigid's Way Facebook page.

Image: "Brigid's Land" video image.

Twenty Day Brigid Devotion with Clann Dord Fiann (Starts Today!)

I am very keen to participate in this shared-yet-solitary daily offering to Brigit as we move toward Imbolc. What a wonderful idea! We begin in less than an hour--8 PM Irish time, noon British Columbia time--but the devotion may be done any time during each twenty-four hour period. Whatever works best for you. I'll let Clann Dord Fiann explain.

FLAMEKEEPING/ BRIGIDMAS/ IMBOLG 2019

For 2019 Clann Dord Fiann are working each evening from the 12th of January to the 31st with a 20 day devotional work with and to Brigid. As part of the extension of our work to have a public face, we invite others to join this activity if they wish. It is solitary and requires no other involvement.

Each day at 8pm (Irish time) we light a candle to Brigid and speak or sing the text of Gabhaim molta Bríghde/ I Give Praise to Brigid, a traditional Irish song and poem. This time is ideal, but need not be followed if not fitting with your life. This may be done at any time each day. We will post daily reminders at 7 daily for the 20 days. For those who would like to work with the text as gaeilge, but who do not speak the language, Gaol Naofa has a phonetic version. http://www.gaolnaofa.org/library/music/gabhaim-molta-bride/ . For the first 19 days we light and extinguish the candle after speaking Gabhaim molta Bríghde and a period of reflection. On the 20th day, Brigids eve, reeds are gathered for crosses, and an effigy of Brigid is brought to the place of the candle, be it an image or a Brideóg. An accompanying verse may be desired of this arrival of Brigid. A historical example is:

Oiche Bhríde brichíneach
Bain an ceann den croiceanach,
Gabhaigí ar na glúnaí,
Déanaigí umhlú
Is ligigí isteach Bríd Bheannaithe.
‘Sé beatha, ‘sé beatha, sé beatha.

"On St Brigid’s night
Take the head off the rushes,
Go on your knees,
Make obeisance
And let St Brigid in.
You’re welcome, you’re welcome, your welcome."

The candle is lit in a safe container and allowed to burn out in the company of Brigid, for on the 20th day Brigid keeps the flame.
___________________

Gabhaim molta Bríghde Text (Gaeilge/ English)

Gabhaim molta Bríghde, iníon í le hÉireann
Iníon le gach tír í, molaimís go léir í.
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach, soils’ ar feadh na tíre
Ceann ar óigheacht Éireann, ceann na mban

Tig an Geimhreadh dian dubh, gearra lena géire
Ach ar lá le Bríghde, gar dúinn Earrach Éireann.
Iníon le gach tír í, molaimís go léir í.
Gabhaim molta Bríghde, iníon í le hÉireann

I give praise to Brigid, daughter of Ireland
Daughter of all lands, let us praise her.
The bright torch of Leinster, shining across the country
The leader of Ireland’s youth, leader of women.

The house of Winter is dark, cutting with its sharpness
But on Brigid’s Day, Spring in Ireland draws near to us.
I give praise to Brigid, daughter of Ireland
Daughter of all lands, let us praise her.

St Brigid Celebration - Greg Tricker and Chloe Goodchild

There is not a lot I can tell you about this video, except that it is lovely. It was uploaded to YouTube by Stephanie Roiner  on 2 Feb. 2017.

Brigit Music Downloads

Passing the time in iTunes (always a dangerous course of action, I understand) I popped "Brigit" in the search field and discovered fellow Canadian Bruce Mitchell's album New Earth Goddess, with its track, "Brigit". A sample tells me this is a rich and rumbling instrumental track. You can find it in various places besides iTunes, but I will give you that link and if you want CDBaby (which is down at the moment) or some other thing you will find it there, too. $0.99 will get you the song. For a review of the album by New Age Music World, pop over here.

For a lighter and more skipping instrumental track by the same name, try Ruaidhri's "Brigit" on his album Celtic Goddess. Also $0.99,

In a much gravellier, grittier vein, the song "Brigit's Cross" by Steve Von Till on his The Grave is a Grim Horse doesn't have a huge amount to do with Brigit but it does protest the primacy of the pre-Christian religion. I liked it. Here is a link to a YouTube rendering, and below are the lyrics. It, too, is $0.99 on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Artist: Steve Von Till

Album: A Grave Is a Grim Horse

Steve Von Till – Brigit's Cross

Holy man,

Don’t waste your breath on me

I don’t seek what you lost

We don’t need your superstition

Keep your poison out of our well

It’s bitter to the taste

We’ve been drinkin’ here

For thousands of years

I left my blessing

On the Brigit’s cross

Our old ways are as snakes

That live deep in the clay

No man with a crooked stick

Can drive them away

He drove our gods into the sea

At least so they say

Let me tell you friend

We’ve given up your ghost

I left my blessing

On the Brigit’s cross

I live my days by the quartered wheel

Woven from the straw

Harvest gold

Reflects the sun

I left my blessing

On the Brigit’s cross

Hymn to Saint Brigid

Philomena Breslin

I've found a lovely rendition (if you like "High Voice", which I do) of a hymn sung by many Irish schoolchildren in earlier times--twentieth century, and if I read things right, nineteenth century as well. (I wonder if it is ever sung in schools there now.) 

It is sung by Philomena Breslin on her album My Wild Irish Rose, and can be purchased on iTunes for $0.99 CDN (or similar in your local monetary dialect). You can preview the song to get the tune and see if you like it. This is (I blush to say) my very first purchase on iTunes. For a more folky version, turn to Michael Connolly on YouTube.

Called here "Hymn to Saint Brigid", the song is also known as "Far Above Enthroned in Glory", and was written by Brigidine Mother Cecilia Sinnott of Goresbridge, a village in County Kilkenny in northern Leinster. The Australian Sisters have the words on their site:

Hymn to St. Brigid

Words by Mother Cecilia, Brigidine Convent, Goresbridge. Circa 1911.
Music by Sinnott (1863-1902)
Music by M.S.

Far above enthroned in glory
Sweetest Saint of Erin’s Isle
See thy children kneel before thee
Turn on us a Mother’s smile.

Sancta Mater, hear our pleading
Faith and hope and holy love
Sweet St. Brigid, Spouse of Jesus,
Sent to us from Heaven above.

Sweet St. Brigid, Erin’s children,
Far and near o’er land and sea
In the world and in the cloister
Fondly turn with love to thee.

Sancta Mater, sooth the mourner
Shield the weary tempted soul
Sweet St. Brigid, guide thy children
To thy bright and happy home.

Marcella, of Trias Thaumaturga, offers the Irish language version of the text, collected by Douglas Hyde. She says of it, " I much prefer the Irish version as the lyrics don't convey the rather twee Victorian-parlour sentimentality of the English."

Twee or not, Philomena's singing and the familiar-sounding melody are pleasant to my old-fashioned ears. 

I am a tad puzzled by the dates given on the Sisters' site, though. If Mother Cecilia died in 1902, I am unsure how she could have written this in 1911. But Saint Brigit is known for her miracles. Maybe this is another such.

Song: Chronilus “Brigid”

About a year ago the band Chronilus played Seattle's Pocket Theater, with the belly-dancing troupe Rags Nocturna. Here is their song “Brigid”, written by Caera Aislingeach.



You can download the song (and hear the words more clearly) at the band's CD Baby page.

The Scribe That Shouldn't Be

I was just grabbing an embed code from YouTube, where I had uploaded "I Will Kindle My Fire", and I noticed under the "More" button: Transcript.

Oh, good idea, thought I, who had just been in the throes of creating one myself. Let's see what they have:

(Ahem.)

0:15

I leukemia do my father who this my whole room

0:20

in the through dozens who viewed noontime who you yumm

0:27

who she is keen dude in my heart it do you feel you

0:33

hopefully move love to my new you

0:37

her to my food to move away from noon to my keen to you

0:44

to movie reviews her new you to move

0:49

room we found out my

0:53

wounds without shedding Lucy

0:56

we've heard hmm

0:58

a movie we found few you...

(Ahem.)

I especially like "wounds without shedding Lucy". If you would like to
experience the whole transcript, or indeed, listen to the song and look at 
the pictures of hearths and sacred flames, you may find them at the 
following link.

Or for the song without the "transcript", see below:

Brighid: Song by CoolMasala

I can't find out much about coolMasala, the band which produced this song, but follow this link for the song itself and several others on their AllMusic page. I found it on Miriam Carl Bölük's YouTube channel, with the credits she supplied below. All I can tell you is that they are from Berlin, and that they do indeed look cool:

Miriam, by the way, is one of the members of this interesting band. For more photos, check out their MySpace page.

Published on 1 Feb 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-Sp94S6Mk#t=75

photographs 
by Christopher Daams http://www.fotocommunity.de/fotograf/...,
paintings 
by Ayrtha http://ayrtha.com/portfolio,
by Wendy Andrew http://www.paintingdreams.co.uk
and by Ruth Sanderson http://www.ruthsanderson.com
lyrics 
by Jodine Cognato Turner http://jodineturner.com

background candles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BKfM... and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFw5K...

• Music

  • "Brighid" by Cool Masala (eMusic • iTunes)
  • • 
      

Hymn to Brigit & Brigit Candle Cross-Stitch

The original version of this hymn is a prayer to God, not Brigit, collected by Alexander Carmichael in the Carmina Gadelica. I came across it in Esther de Waal's book on Celtic Christianity, Every Earthly Blessing, and was much moved by the text. In my efforts to memorize my modified version to use as a prayer on rising each morning, a tune began to attach itself to the phrases. I offer it to you now with a collection of images, mostly from old postcards and archival photos, but also including:

• images from the website of the Brigidine sisters of Australia
• hearth drawings by E. Estyn Evans
• the Solas Bhride hearth (photo by Erynn Laurie)
• Judy Chicago's Saint Bridget plate from The Dinner Party
• my own very humble clay crèche of Brigit, her cow, and the triple flame
• a Brigit candle cross-stitch design by Donna Amaral of the Daughters of the Flame
• a painting of a Renaissance woman blacksmith by Francesca Miller
• a photo of friends drumming around the fire in Haiti
• Mayra Gomez carrying Brigit's flame (from the AFRI website)
• a woman blacksmith in Sulawesi

I include Donna Amaral's cross-stitch pattern here. Please credit her wherever you may use it. Donna was an early and dedicated member of the Daughters of the Flame whose generosity and joy were a great inspiration and support to all who knew her. Her death was a great loss to us all.

I will kindle my fire (Brigit Song)

I will kindle my fire this morning

in the presence of Brigit and her holy women.
Brigit kindle in my heart within
a flame of love to my neighbour
to my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all
to the brave, to the knave, to the thrall.
Without malice, without jealousy
without envy, without fear
without terror of anyone under the sun.

For the original words, collected by Alexander Carmichael, see the Comment section below.