Bride

Bride, also known as Brigit, is the Irish Goddess of fire, smithcraft, medicine, and poetry. The holiday of Imbolc, February first, is very much associated with Her, as it is also associated with the Cailleach, the old hag of winter.

Bride is the daughter of the Dagda, and considered one of the Tuatha De Danann, the people of the Goddess Danu; She was especially associated with the province of Leinster, and was believed to protect the people there.

Bride proved so popular that when Christianity came along they adopted Her into their pantheon as Saint Brigid, one of the three patron saints of Ireland; She was still, however, associated with fire and the province of Leinster. At Her convent in Kildare an eternal flame was kept lit.

Many healing springs are associated with the saint and Goddess; I have shown Her here therefore with both fire and water, in the green that is Her color.