Latest Updates.
- 28 August 2023: In Memory of Máirín Ní Mhurchú by Rose Moran added
- 23 March 2023: Poem ‘Faughart of Her Birth’ by Rose Moran added
- 23 February 2023: Poem St Brigid by Fr John Cullen added to Poems.
- 6 December 2022: Video “Turas Peannaide Bhríde” by Éamonn O’hUallachain added below.
- 22 October 2022: Poem “A Blessed Town” by Séan Ross added.
Turas Peannaide Bhríde 2023
A poem, St Brigid by Fr John Cullen, via Jim McHugh added to poems in thanks and in appreciation of the peannaide 2023 with Éamonn O’hUallachain on 23rd February 2023.
Faughart of Her Birth We climbed the steps to her Shrine With Angelus Bell remembered Tom Spoke aloud the names of Friends Who often prayed that Prayer with him Remembering all who could not come His care to stop for Angel Call Mairéad and Muireann leading We began the pilgrimage with Eamonn Who introduced the Peannaide But not without the background of her Story: Brigid, Biddy, Brigantia, Latin: daughter Of Slave-woman, Brocassa and the Chieftain Dubhthach, in a rich tapestry of History Myth, Folklore and the Pilgrimage Tradition We read aloud first verse of Tom’s Poem: Lady! Cailleach! Brigit! : A Hymn of Praise. Began one side of stream: ‘an taobh abhus’ Continued on with Prayers and verses of The Poem, stopping at each Station, four In close proximity. We walked the Walk To The Stations of The Healing Stones We passed other shrine remembrances Lourdes, Knock and Calvary all reminders Of the Christian journey, spirituality with History linked, met other Pilgrims, noted Bush with ribbons and the awakening Earth of Imbolg and always, as with Tom The wider scene and our own connection Healing Stones: Knees, Eyes, Body, Head Our Hearts attuned. Eamon tells each story And leaves a space to listen to the other Faughart Parishioners, to pilgrims from the Brigid Places: Ardagh of her Baptism and Consecration, Kildare: Convent and Flame Holy Wells, Liscannor and Limerick Border Dublin, Monaghan, Belfast, Northern Ireland, stories of The Biddy Boys in Dingle And The West, the Crois Bhríde a woven Belt worn for Protection. Shapes and Sculpture of stones ignite Imagination We sing Gabhaim Molta Bhride and Continue to her Well on Faughart Hill A hilltop view of the mountains we once Climbed, Armagh from Louth; on other Side, Loughcrew in Meath, Cavan Below us in the sun the sea, Dundalk Bay Beneath our feet Bruce history. We cross The style into Cemetery, stop at Well and Make our final circle round the stone- Marked mound. We read aloud The Thirteen Shouts for Brigid, women and men Alternating: A Pilgrimage to remember. Rose Moran
Turas Peannaide Bhríde by Éamonn O’hUallachain
As we stood at Tom’s grave in October 2020, following the ritual of Remembrance, the germ (or gem!) of an idea/project unfolded in our conversation. Tom’s grave in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dundalk, lies in the shelter of his beloved mountains and in the shadow of Faughart. All who knew Tom will remember his love of Brigid of Faughart and his unpacking of the rituals, stories, poetry, traditions and myths associated with her.
Indeed he celebrated every St. Brigid’s Day at Faughart and his own ‘SHOUTS for Brigid’ are found in many of his writings.
Éamonn O hUallachain was there that day in St. Parick’s and Raymond Manley, also. The gem that was unfolding, was polished into a diamond recently, with a video of the Peannaide of Brigid in Faughart, filmed by Raymond and beautifully documented by Éamonn.
That video is going up on the Chokmah website now in plenty of time for St. Brigid’s Day, 2023. It is our hope also, that we will do the Peannaide together, in Spring 2023.
Muireann
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