A County Wexford Salute to Saint Brigid

There is a beautiful wall-hanging of St. Brigid in the day-chapel of the parish church in Clonard, Co. Wexford. It celebrates St. Brigid, “Muire na nGael.” We see her surrounded by earth, sky and sea that is a delight to behold.

The intricate and exquisite handwork was carried out by ten gifted women, all volunteers. It took two years of dedicated work to complete the project and it was unveiled on St. Brigid’s Day in 2001.

The work is clearly more than an account of Brigid’s life, because as the women worked day in day out, they soon found that they had become a little group of close followers of Brigid, and quickly began to meditate on her life. In fact, they compared themselves to a group of ancient monks illuminating the Scriptures in their monastery cells. Soon, every stitch they sewed became a prayer.

The fruit of their commitment is an inspirational art-piece that speaks to all age groups. Children are fascinated by its ducks, lambs, bees, rainbows, baby fish…

The boundless generosity of Brigid is a central theme in the piece. It is an invitation to all of us to care lovingly for our beautiful, fragile common home.

The hanging speaks especially to women; it was created by women and is an invitation to all of us to celebrate womanhood with Brigid.

As we celebrate the feast of Brigid and the whole month of February – “Mi na Feile Bride”- marking a turning point in the Celtic year and the feast of Imbolg announcing the arrival of new life- may St. Brigid continue to inspire us, bless us and protect us –

The Brigid Cloak

“Sun disc red to golden

Burnished bark of trees

Blue moon shows face

To all the earth

To crocuses and leaves

Pussy willow silvers

Winter blossom

Pinks the boughs

The earth looks kind

Flooding dried for Brigid

Her cloak she spreads for

Stepping into Spring.”

                         Rose Moran RSM

                                     B. O‘S

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