A few days after her Feast Day I know but I came across this little tribute to St Brigid in Dublin’s Botanic Gardens this afternoon….
Brat Bhríde – Brigid’s Cloak
Brigid approached the King of Leinster requesting some land on which to build a monastery. She had selected a place in Kildare which suited her needs – it had a lake for water, forest for firewood and a fertile plain for farming. The King refused her request of course. Brigid and her followers prayed for help and she made her request again – this time asking “Give me as much land as my cloak will cover.”
Much amused, the king granted her request. Brigid lay down her cloak which began to spread out across the fields and woods until she had sufficient land for her monastery. The King, realising that this woman was truly blessed by God, kept his promise. She built her monastery circa 470AD. As for the king – he converted to Christianity and became a patron of the monastery, assisting Brigid with money, food and gifts.
Elsewhere in the Gardens on this gorgeous afternoon – alas I’d just my phone with me….
I hadn’t heard that story but I can see how fitting that tribute is, and the gardens look beautiful!
It was lovely to come across the tribute. The gardens are lovely – just a few kms from the city centre and free to enter.
What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The story of Brat Bhride is interesting as is the temporary art installation. Nice post!
I taught in a St Brigid’s school (a different one from above) for 36 years so particularly loved the interpretation of the story…
A lovely tribute. The photo with the sculpture has such vibrant light.
….something we never take for granted here – especially in February!!
What a lovely tribute, and I’d never heard the story before so thank you for sharing it.
Glad you enjoyed, Hannah.
Ah, the snowdrops. I never made it there in my Dublin days 🙁
I was there once last year but before that it was literally decades – shameful really – no excuse and both being retired we can avoid the weekend – we came away determined to visit more often…
Great post Marie
Thank you Leela – glad you enjoyed.
I love temporary art installations in nature. I used to make them with my students on field trips.
I don’t know how close that school is to the Gardens. What a great facility for them. Like you, I loved such activity….I taught in a very built up area with only limited green space for the 4/5 year olds to walk to. Mind you, whenever we did venture out, the strategic challenge with a class of 30 or 32 boys was exhausting to say the least!!! Do I miss all that?? NO!!!
Very funny. I never taught a class with only boys. I can only imagine.
I loved them all to bits. It’s a single sex school and I spent my full career there so I never knew anything else!