Who is Brigid?
According to Irish myth, Brigid is the daughter of the Dagda and the wife of Bres, a Fomorian king. She is either a triple goddess, or three sisters all named Brigid, and is worshipped as the patroness of healing, smithcraft, and poetry. In addition, she has associations with both fire and water, and with fertility, and is known as the protectress of women in childbirth and of livestock. The goddess Brigid is closely associated, and may have been syncretized with the Irish St. Brigid, who founded a monastery in Kildare in 490 AD. Like the goddess, St. Brigid was associated with fire, and many of her stories illustrate her care of those in need and her concern for livestock. Also like the goddess, St. Brigid was a patroness of poetry and crafts. The name Brigid – variously spelled Brighid, Brigit, and Brid – comes from the Celtic word brig, meaning “High One” or “Exalted One.” As such, it was originally a title, rather than a proper name. It has also been interpreted to mean “Fiery Arro
