St. Brigid

(Saint Bridget)

451–525

ST. BRIDGET OF THE MANTEL

Saint Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland, was born at Faughart in county Louth, her father being a prince of Ulster. Refusing to marry, she chose a life of seclusion, making her cell under a large oak tree, whence the place was called Kildara, "the church of the oak." The city of Kildare is supposed to derive its name from St Brigid's cell. The year of her death is generally placed in 523. She was buried at Kildare, but her remains were afterwards translated to Downpatrick, where they were laid beside the bodies of St Patrick and St Columba. Her feast is celebrated on the 1st of February.

A large collection of miraculous stories clustered round her name, and her reputation was not confined to Ireland, for, under the name of St Bride, she became a favourite saint in England, and numerous churches were dedicated to her in Scotland.

— From the 1911 Encyclopaedia Brittanica.

Key events during the life of St. Brigid of Ireland:

Year	Event
451	Born into a noble Celtic family at Dundalk in Ireland.
468	Inspired to become a nun by the preaching of St. Patrick
470	Founded two monasteries in Kildare, one for men and one for women.
	Lived an inspirational life of holiness as Abbess of Kildare.
	Inspired numerous legends.
525	Died at Kildare.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Saint Bridget and the King's Wolf  in	The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts  by  Abbie Farwell Brown
St Bridget of Kildare  in	Stories of the Saints  by  Grace Hall
Saint Bridget  in	Our Island Saints  by  Amy Steedman

Image Links
Saint Bridget of the Mantel  in Our Island Saints

Contemporary	Short Biography
Saint Mel	Priest who traveled with St. Patrick and consecrated St. Brigid.
Saint Conleth	Bishop of Kildare who was a friend of St. Brigid.
St. Patrick	Kidnapped as a child and brought to Ireland, returned later to spread Christianity.