We departed Dublin today - very early and under cloudy skies - to head towards Kildare (Cill Dara in the Irish, 'the Church of the Oak') because today was dedicated to exploring the life and contribution of St Brigid to the Irish nation and its soul.
In heading to Kildare we were entering into the Curragh, Ireland's prime thoroughbred horse breading country, and there was plenty of evidence of the significance of this industry to the nation.
Our first stop on this day dedicated to St Brigid was to St Brigid's Well - or one of them at least. This one is located on what would have beeb grazing pasture for Brigid's Monastery, and the site on which the butter for which she was famously known would have been produced.
These day the site is one of pilgrimage, evidenced by the many offerings left around the site as signs of prayers requested. It clearly still has a powerful place in the folk religion of the Irish people, Christian and otherwise, and there was a peacefulness about it that is clearly tied to it being a place of prayer.
Afterwards, because we were running early, we went around the corner to the Irish National Stud for morning tea.
Our next stop was to St Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare which is reputedly located on the site of the original monastery founded by St Brigid, and which she ruled (both women and men) with dedication and great spiritual insight for many a year.
The church that stands on the site now is a much later construction and is the Cathedral Church of the Church of Ireland's Diocese of Kildare. It is a beautiful building and was decorated when we visited as a result of the annual Harvest Festival.
There is a round tower in the grounds, and also, supposedly, the original fire temple in which the perpetual fire was tended by holy women from the monastery. The fire is no longer present, and is now kept by the Brigidine Sisters at Solas Bhride - but see below…
Having explored the original location to St Brigid's monastery, we moved to the local parish church for the celebration of Eucharist. It will surprise you not that the church is dedicated to St Brigid!
St Brigid’s Church, Kildare has a more modern interrior to the other churches we’ve visited for Mass so far on our trip through Ireland, and had a completely different vibe about it as well. Nevertheless, we were greated with the same “you’re very welcome” that we have been graced with in each location.
After Mass, we returned to the Irish National Stud for lunch.
After a light lunch, some of the group decided to have a tour of the Stud and the associated Japanese Gardens. Myself, not being interested that much in thoroughbred horses, along with a few others, walked to the nearby Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre & Hermitages, operated by the Brigidine Sisters.
There were two reasons for me wanting to do this. Firstly, I wanted to visit the perpetual fire that is now in the keeping of the good Sisters. Secondly, the grounds hosted a labyrinth, and I felt a strong urge to walk it.
Walking the labyrinth was a wonderful experience - as I have often found it to be - and really centred me again after a day when I was experiencing some frustration. Taking the time to slowly walk into and out of the labyrinth, deliberately, prayerfully, purposefully, help me to once again regain some perspective, balance, and insight. I really wish I had the opportunity to walk a labyrinth more often...
Along the way to Solas Bhride from the National Stud, I came across some ruins, which on further investigation were once a Monastery belonging to the Knights Hospitaller, one of the forerunners of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, of which I am privileged and honoured to serve as State Chaplain in New South Wales. It was an unexpected and poignant moment.
