Timeless Myths Logo
Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
Amun Anubis Aten Atum Babi Bastet Bes Geb Hapi hathor heqet Horus Isis Khepri Khnum Khonsu Maat Nephthys Nut Osiris Ptah Ra Seshat Seth Shu Sobek Thoth
Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne the Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
Chalchiuhtlicue Coatlicue Huitzilopochtli Mictlantecuhtli Mixcoatl Ometeotl Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Tlaloc Tonatiuh Xipe Totec Xochiquetzal Xolotl
Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
Norse Classical Celtic Arthurian
Literature Stories Names
Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
Amun Anubis Aten Atum Babi Bastet Bes Geb Hapi hathor heqet Horus Isis Khepri Khnum Khonsu Maat Nephthys Nut Osiris Ptah Ra Seshat Seth Shu Sobek Thoth
Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne the Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
Chalchiuhtlicue Coatlicue Huitzilopochtli Mictlantecuhtli Mixcoatl Ometeotl Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Tlaloc Tonatiuh Xipe Totec Xochiquetzal Xolotl
Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
Norse Classical Celtic Arthurian
Literature Stories Names
  1. Mythology Gods
    Aztec Gods Egyptian Gods Japanese Gods Chinese Gods Roman Gods Celtic Gods Greek Gods Norse Gods
  2. Celtic Gods
    Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne The Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
  3. Brigid

Brigid

Brigid: The Exalted One

Brigid, goddess of fertility, spring, and wells, was a Celtic deity of pagan Ireland. She was a prominent member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, meaning “the folk of the goddess Danu,” which is the pantheon of Irish deities.

Not only was she the goddess of fertility, but she was also the goddess of healers, fire, poetry, blacksmithing, animals, the dawn, and was called “The Exalted One.”

Woman as Celtic goddess Brigid

In this article, you will learn about Brigid’s beginning and how she created a certain grieving tradition for Irish women.

Who Is Brigid in Celtic Mythology?

Brigid was beloved by the poets in pre-Christian Ireland because of her ability to give poetic inspiration. She was also linked with healing, protection, blacksmithing, and animals. People would sacrifice to her to gain inspiration, healing, and protection.

It seems her domain had no end, for she was also the goddess of wells and waterways, and her name comes from the Proto-Celtic word “Briganti,” which means “The Exalted One” or “The High One.”

You can see this connection in the English word “bright,” which stemmed from the same root word. Her name is the inspiration for the modern name Bridget, and this goddess has many similarities with the Christian saint St. Brigid of Kildare.

This could be that the pagan goddess was brought into the Christian story once Christianity gained popularity, so her story lingers. Her domain consisted of many things, and because of that, we know that she was a very important and respected goddess in the Irish pantheon.

She was offered sacrifices and was worshipped for her various abilities, but her attributes were often opposing. On one hand, she was the goddess of fertility and the protector of women and children. On the other hand, she was the patron of poets and blacksmiths. She was linked to passion and fire and contradictorily, connected to serenity, calm, and water.

Brigid and Her Family

Brigid was mentioned in the ancient writings about Ireland, such as Cormac’s Glossary from the 9th century or Lebor Gabála Érenn, a collection of prose and poetry about the history of Ireland. In them, Brigid was the daughter of the Dagda, the main god of the Irish pantheon.

He was the one who passed down the gifts of healing and wisdom to her. Her mother was possibly Danu, the river goddess, or Boann, the fertility goddess.

Her siblings included:

  • Aengus, god of youth, summer, and possibly poetic inspiration

  • Midir

  • Cermait, son killed after having an affair with another man’s wife

  • Aed, god of the underworld

  • Bodb Derg, Dagda’s successor

  • Brigid the Healer

  • Brigid the Smith

(These two Brigids could have been her sisters, or it could have meant that Brigid was a triple goddess. It’s unclear in the writings, but it may also be true that Brigid was more of a title than a personal name.)

She married the High King Bres and with him had a son named Ruadán. In another tale, she married a man named Tuireann, and they had three sons: Brian, Iuchar, Irchaba. The most popular tales state that she was the wife of the High King Bres, but tragically, her son died in a bloody battle. Her laments for him became legendary.

Brigid’s Myths: Tales of the Red-Haired Goddess

It was said that Brigid was born at sunrise and had flames shooting out of her head. She was born into the ancient circle of gods, the Tuatha Dé Danann, who practiced magic. Because of the flames she was born with, Brigid was automatically linked to the cosmos.

However, for whatever reason, her family lost their mystical lands, which lay to the west. They could no longer live there, so they searched for a new land to live and practice their magic in. They traveled to the misty isle of Ireland to settle. However, once they came, a great battle began between them and the settlers already residing there: the Firbolg and the Fomorians.

They had victory over the Firbolg in Galway. Then they faced the Fomorians (fearsome giants) in Sligo. The gods won the battle against Ireland’s residents, but they paid the ultimate price.

Brigid and Keening

St. Bridget of Kildare church

Brigid is credited for creating the grieving action of “keening,” and it was because of this battle. When they went to fight against the residents of Ireland, her father was injured and later died from his wounds.

Sadly, despite the overall success of her son Ruadán in the battle, he fell and died right there on the battlefield. Brigid went to him and lamented her son as she laid next to his dead body.

She was wailing loudly in grief, and her laments were almost like a sorrowful song. According to myth, this was the first time that sadness was felt in Ireland.

Because of Brigid, Irish women would keen at the graves of their dead as part of a tradition. That is also why Brigid was the protector of graveyards.

Brigid’s Symbols and Art

She was often portrayed with red or “fiery” hair because of her connection with flames and, of course, Ireland. She would wear a cloak that looked like a sunbeam, and flames would be coming out of her head. She was a youthful woman, and she might have been pictured with things like that were under her domain. These items are flames, children, domesticated animals.

She did have two oxen among her coterie, showing her protection and patronage of animals. Their names were Fe and Men. She also kept company with a wild boar named Torc Triath as well as a ram named Cirb.

Festivals and Holy Sites of the Celtic Goddess of Fire

There was one festival in Ireland for Brigid. It is also the same festival as St. Brigid because she soon became inextricably linked after the onset of Christianity to the goddess Brigid. Worship of the goddess and the saint occurred during the festival Imbolc, and it takes place on February 1st of each year.

February 1st was the beginning of the Irish year, and so it was a time to celebrate life, rebirth, healing, protection, and inspiration. Because her holy sites were wells and waterways, the Irish people would leave sacrifices to her at those spots to ask for healing, wisdom, or protection.

Goddess Brigid’s offerings might be things like food or coins that the people would leave to ask for blessings. Even though all wells and waterways were her holy sites, two main ones have gained popularity in Irish history. First is Brigid’s Well in Kildare, where the water in the well was said to heal any wound or any sickness. Today, it is dedicated to St. Brigid, but there is still an eternal flame there for Brigid, the goddess.

The other is Brigid’s Well in County Clare, which was built in a church under a cemetery. Both places are holy sites, and visitors go even today to earn the saint’s or the goddess’s blessing. One of Brigid’s other symbols is the Brigid Cross, and it is still popular in Ireland, especially around Imbolc. It is made from rushes or grass and is a very popular symbol, and many around the world might recognize it as a protection charm.

Brigid and St. Bridget of Kildare

Once Christianity came to Ireland, monks turned the goddess Brigid into her Christian equivalent. This was St. Bridget of Kildare. There is some debate about whether or not this saint was actually a real person or shared the same mythical status as her pagan counterpart. Either way, St. Brigid, like Patrick, became a patron saint of Ireland.

Brigid and St. Brigid share similar characteristics and power of similar domains. She had been born to a pagan family, but with the help of St. Patrick, her family was converted to Christianity.

At a young age, she began to perform miracles such as healing, connecting her to the Celtic red-haired goddess. As she grew in the faith, she was credited with starting a monastery as well as a school of the arts.

Her life was dedicated to faith and kindness, serving the poor, and providing healing. She and Brigid the goddess shared many stories and attributes, and even now, they share the same holiday and holy sites.

Both goddess and saint were rumored to have been approached by people many times for blessings, healing, and protection. However, Brigid the goddess would often put these people through tests or lessons as the price for whatever she gave them to help them learn and grow.

Brigid’s Legacy

Brigid as a goddess can be seen as one of the pantheon in the game Dungeons & Dragons. She was also a subject of songs and poetry, and of course, we know her as St. Brigid of Kildare. They are now almost exactly one and the same in the eyes of the Irish people. Brigid’s name lives on in Irish culture as well, for many are called Brigid or Bridget.

Conclusion

Woman as Celtic goddess Brigid, the exalted one

Brigid was a powerful goddess in Irish folklore, and here are the main points of her history:

  • Brigid was born of Dagda and Danu or Boann

  • She was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, meaning “the folk of the goddess Danu,” which was the Irish pantheon of gods

  • She was born at sunrise, and flames were shooting out of her head

  • She was the goddess of healing, protection, inspiration, cemeteries, fire, poetry, fertility, blacksmithing, wells, waterways, and the list goes on

  • Her named also means “The Exalted One”

  • She may have been a triple goddess, which would make sense because of how many attributes and abilities she had

  • Brigid was married to High King Bres, and they had a son named Ruadán. She might have also married Tuireann and had three sons named Brian, Iuchar, and Irchaba

  • The Tuatha Dé Danann lived in the mystical lands of the west and practiced magic, but they lost their lands and had to settle elsewhere. They chose Ireland

  • When they arrived, they had to fight against those already settled there: the Firbolg and the Fomorians

  • They defeated them both, but Dagda, the chief god, and Brigid’s son Ruadán both died

  • Brigid so lamented her son, and she cried out in grief, creating the tradition of keening at one’s grave

  • Irish women still practice this solemn tradition

  • Brigid is shown in art and stories as having red, fiery hair and wearing a cloak like a sunbeam

  • She might be pictured with flames, domesticated animals, or even children as she was the goddess of fertility and protector of animals

  • Her symbols were the two oxen Fe and Man, the wild boar Torc Triath, the ram Cirb, and Brigid’s cross, made of rushes and grass

  • Brigid’s Cross is a protection symbol and can be found worldwide

  • She and the Christian saint St. Brigid are closely tied, and scholars believe this saint was simply taken from the pagan Irish folklore

  • It’s unclear whether or not St. Brigid of Kildare existed, but she is a patron saint of Ireland

  • She and the goddess Brigid share the same holiday, Imbolc, on February 1st, as well as the same holy sites

  • Brigid’s Well of Kildare and Brigid’s Well in Clare are both holy sites for these women, and people would come and leave sacrifices of food or coins there as well as any wells or waterways

  • Brigid lives on in St. Brigid of Kildare, as well as the name Bridget

It’s refreshing to see a woman given such high esteem in a culture’s mythological pantheon.

However, unlike other mythology, she only seems to have been given positive characteristics: healing, inspiration, and protection. In that way, it made her seem almost human, and perhaps that’s why it makes sense that many people think she is the inspiration for St. Bridget of Kildare.

She also was so grieved for the loss of her son, and her reaction was so impactful that it affected the traditions of the later people of Ireland. Now, that’s power.

By Timeless Myths

Celtic Gods:

  • • Aengus
  • • Arawn
  • • Badb
  • • Brigid
  • • Cailleach
  • • Ceridwen
  • • Cernunnos
  • • Cu Chulainn
  • • Dagda
  • • Danu
  • • Gwydion
  • • Herne The Hunter
  • • Lugh
  • • Medb
  • • Morrigan
  • • Neit
  • • Nuada
  • • Taliesin
  • • Taranis
Brigit

Brigit

Brigit (Brigid) was the goddess of healing and fertility as well as the goddess of craft, especially of metalworking. Brigit was probably also the goddess of fire and poetry. She was the warrior goddess as well as the patron goddess of craftsmen. ...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Brigindo

Brigindo

Brigindo was the Gallic goddess, also called Brigandu. She was a popular goddess throughout the Celtic world. Brigindo was the goddess of arts, crafts, fertility, and possibly of war. Her name meant "Exalted One" or "High One". Imbolc was a pagan ...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Brigantia

Brigantia

Brigantia was the tribal goddess of the Brigantes, the British Celts living in the large region named after her, in northern England. The Romans identified Brigantia with Minerva (Athena). Brigantia was a popular goddess, and she was worshipped an...

May 13th, 2000 • Jimmy Joe
Celtic Gods

Celtic Gods

This pantheon is a mixture of Celtic gods and goddesses taken from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales . Their myths were taken from ancient writings and collections of stories. The group of Irish gods was called the Tuatha Dé Danann. Together, the stori...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Danu

Danu

Danu: Mysteries of the Mother Goddess Danu, goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the original mother goddess in Celtic mythology. The very name Tuatha Dé Danann means “Children of Danu,” and it is believed that she was the beginning of the existen...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Badb

Badb

Badb: The Battle Crow Badb, goddess of war and death in Celtic mythology , can shape-shift into a crow. She was a frightening character with the face of a crone and the ability to strike fear and chaos into the world. She often got involved in imp...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Dagda

Dagda

Dagda: Magic of the Good God Dagda, god of gods, went by Dagda or The Dagda. He was the chief and foremost god of the Irish group of gods, the Tuatha dé Danann. He was very wise, very skilled, and had many domains such as fertility, agriculture, a...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Flidais

Flidais

Goddess of the forest, hunting, and wild beasts. Flidais was not only the huntress of wild animals, she was also their protector. Flidais was the mistress of stags, who had a chariot pulled by deer. Flidais was the mother of several daughters who ...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Cailleach

Cailleach

Cailleach: The Divine Hag Cailleach is a goddess of many names and titles, but for the most part, she is a divine hag . Even her name means “old woman,” and she has the power to handle storms, control winter, and build mountains. Cailleach was kno...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Ainé

Ainé

Sky goddess or sun goddess. Ainé was also seen as the Irish goddess of human love and the goddess of fertility of animals and agriculture. Ainé (Aine) was the daughter of Eógabal and the sister of Fer Í. In some other texts, she was the daughter o...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe

Explore Myths

All Stories

Characters

All Articles

Search

Site Map

Mythologies

Norse Mythology

Classical Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Arthurian Legends

Mythology Gods

Ancient Literature

About Us

Introduction

About Jimmy

Bibliography

FAQs

Retro Version

Resources

Timeless Myths

All Stories

All Articles

Characters

Copyright Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Contact

© 1999-2025

Timeless Myths

© 2025 Timeless Myths