Saint Brigid’s service led by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir will take place on Tuesday 1 February

This year’s St Brigid’s Service led by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir will take place on Tuesday 1 February at St Fiacre’s Church in Loughboy Kilkenny at 7.30pm.

In line with government guidelines, the Kilkenny Gospel Choir will lead the service with song and prayer in remembrance of all the families who have been affected in different ways by Covid-19, St Brigid, ‘the Mary of the Gael’, as she is known for generations of the people of Ireland commands affection and respect. Brigid was a strong woman who stood up against the authoritarian attitude of her day and fought for the rights of women, especially those who faced abuse and hardship.

“People attend the service and take water and red flannel home invoking the protection of St Brigid. It is said that St Brigid’s cloak was made of red flannel and when she spread her cloak over the sick, the worried or the anxious they were healed,” said Father Willie Purcell who will lead the service.

This year’s service will include holy water from St Brigid’s well which will be available as well as red flannel associated with St Brigid’s healing ministry. All are invited to bring their cross of St Brigid to be blessed.

“At this difficult time in everyone’s life, it is important that we stand together in support of each other and what better than to come together and pray for each other,” said Mary Kealy Kilkenny Gospel Choir PRO.

St Brigid is remembered for her hospitality and hard work, as a woman of God and a woman of the people. A powerful personality, which spoke to everyone, from the highest placed to the humble beggar. Brigid’s life begins in Faughart, a few miles from Dundalk, County Louth, in the year 453. Her father is a chief named Dubthach and her mother is Brocessa, a Christian slave.

Shortly after Brigid was born, Dubthach’s wife persuaded him to send Brocessa to Murroe in East Limerick. Brigid is placed in foster care. When she reaches the age of being useful, Brigid returns to her father’s house, taking her mother’s place in the usual cycle of slave duties – herding cattle, serving meals, etc.

It is already evident that Brigid has a calling as she constantly reaches out to the poor. She owns a clothing store and
food for them and commandeers his father’s property when there is nothing else available!

Brigid’s genius for leadership and organization comes into its own. A woman of wisdom and common sense, she takes care of the sick, treating them with her knowledge of contemporary medicine. She created schools for poor children.

More than anything else, however, Brigid is renowned for her hospitality. After a few years as ruler of Kildare, Brigid is the most prominent religious leader on the Liffey Plain. Many and notable are the names that ask him for help. St Fiacre came to her for advice. It is a long and productive life of service to others. Brigid is known to posterity as a patroness of Irish women and motherhood, someone to turn to for help in domestic matters and in times of illness and loss.

For more information on the evening, contact the Kilkenny Gospel Choir @kilkennygospelchoir@gmail.com.