Who are We?

Who Are We?

We are a Brighidine order (Ord Brighideach, a sister order to Daughters of the Flame) of flame-keepers engaging in devotional work to Brighid. We are committed to carrying out Her work in this world in the manner in which we have been called, or, if we have not yet been called, in a manner in which we feel will serve Her. You may ask why the order is based on early local christian legends when most members are pagans but the incorporation of elements of the pre-christian goddess Brigit into the surviving tales of the great Irish saint Brigid is widely recognised. This Leinster saint, said to be of the Fotharta sept, being the founder abbess of the religious foundation at Kildare. Dr Daithi O hOgain has suggested that a pagan sanctuary at Kildare was christianised by a holy woman of the Fotharta and that she took over the goddess-name Brighid which may have been a title for the cheif druidess there.

Who is Brighid the Goddess?

Brighid - a poetess, daughter of the Dagda. She is the female sage, woman of wisdom, or Brighid the Goddess whom poets venerated because she was very great and famous for her protecting care. She was therefore called 'Goddess of Poets'. Her sisters were Brighid the female physician, and Brighid the female smith; among all Irishmen, a goddess was called 'Brighid'. Brighid is from 'breo-agit' or 'fiery arrow'.

Who is Saint Brigit?

Brigid, the saint, born about 457, is patroness of poetry and learning, of healing and craftmanship, and her influence is not confined to Ireland alone. Legend has it that the medieval knights of chivalry chose Bridget as their patroness, and it was they who first called their wives 'brides'. The first vernacular Irish Life of Brigit is the Bethu Brigte, and in this document the saint is presented as a contemporary of Saint Patrick, who lived in the earlier fifth century AD, but her flowering is generally considered to be from the late fifth to early sixth century, and her monastery of Kildare is reputed to have been founded in AD 390. Apparently, in all Brigidine convents, from the Fifth to the Fifteenth Century, according to her wishes, a flame was kept alive to symbolise hospitality, warmth, growth and light. In 1993, the Brigidine sisters of Ireland rekindled this flame in KildareThe following of Saint Brigit was not confined to Ireland but was also popular in Scotland, Wales (where she was know as Saint Ffraid), Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man.

How many are you?

Each cell is comprised of nineteen people - this is in imitation of St. Brighid's foundation at Kildare where a perpetual flame was maintained. The name Kildare itself is derived from the Irish Cill Dara or Church of the Oak Tree. A twelfth century writer said that since the saint's death there were always nineteen nuns within the foundation and each, in turn, guarded the fire for a night but on the twentieth night the fire was left for Brighid herself to tend.

We currently have over 100 Flame-keepers, representing eight different countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Netherlands, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States

Why aren't there any men in your Cill?

Cill Abhaill was designated to be an all women's cill. However there are Co-ed and all Men Cills as well.

How long do you tend the flame?

We tend the flame for a 24 hour period. Since the Celtic day is measured from sundown to sundown we tend the flame in the same manner. We are on the 20 day rotation. So the evening our flame tending shift begins, we would count forward 20 days to know when the shift begins again.

 

Graphic Art on this page by Brian Froud

 

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