KILLAVULLEN

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St Brigid’s Day is Tuesday, February 1st. This day also marks the beginning of spring, when we begin to see the arrival of the longer, warmer days.

In ancient lore, Brigid was a fire goddess, nowadays her canonisation is marked with a perpetual flame at her shrine in County Kildare. St Brigid is the patron saint of babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle farmers, dairy workers, mariners, midwives, nuns, poets, the poor, poultry farmers, printing presses, sailors, scholars and travellers - just to name a few!

The Brideog is a tradition which is associated with St Brigid in some parts of the country still. Young girls and unmarried women of a household or area create a corn doll to represent Brigid called the Brideog (little Brigid). It is decorated and they make a bed for the doll to lie in. On St Brigid’s Eve, January 31st, the girls and women gather and stay up with the Brideog.

Music and song is often associated with this tradition. The following day the girls carry the Brideog through the village or neighbourhood, from house to house, where this representation of the saint/goddess is welcomed with great honour.

Adult women – those who are married or who run a household – stay home to welcome the Brigid procession, perhaps with an offering of coins or a snack. Since Brigid represents the light half of the year and the power that will bring people from the dark season of winter into spring, her presence is very important at this time of year.

Another tradition associated with St Brigid is the tradition of the cloth. Before going to bed, each member of the household may leave a piece of clothing or strip of cloth outside for Brigid to bless. The fire is raked so the ashes are smooth.

In the morning, people look for some kind of mark on the ashes, a sign that Brigid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes or strips of cloth are brought inside and believed to now have powers of healing and protection.

St Brigid’s Cross is an international symbol of Ireland, as famous as the shamrock and the harp. The distinctive St Brigid’s Cross design is made from woven rushes and is thought to keep evil, fire and hunger from the homes in which it was displayed. The tale of its creation is varied and there is not one definitive version.

The most common tale is of an old pagan Chieftain who lay on his deathbed in Kildare. Brigid was summoned to sit with him in the hope to calm his restless spirit. She is said to have sat by him consoling him and calming him and as she did, she picked up rushes from the floor and fashioned a cross from them. As she weaved, she explained the meaning of the cross to the sick Chieftain and he was so enamoured by her words, that he requested to be baptised a Christian just before his death.

Since that day it has been customary for people to weave a St Brigid’s Cross made from straw or rushes and place it inside the house or over the door.

KILLAVULLEN AREA COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

There are vacancies in Killavullen for a caretaker in the community hall and an ‘environmental’ worker in the village. Positions are also available in Castletownroche and Ballyhooly. Contact: killavullencescheme@gmail.com or 022-46675.

WALK WITH CHARLIE

You might have seen Charlie Bird on The Late Late Show recently, or read articles about his diagnosis. Last weekend Walk With Charlie was launched, encouraging people to climb with Charlie on April 2nd to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease Ireland, and Pieta House.

Killavullen are going to walk with Charlie on this date, with the finer details still to be ironed out. For some, a stroll to the mast might be an option, for others the hill up Monanimy or Carrigacunna might be enough or a walk around Nano’s might be just right to join in solidarity with others on this day. It is all about walking a hill - for some it may be an actual hill, for others it may be a challenge inside.

There are about 12 weeks to get prepared, walk a little and get ready so save the date.