Looking for Brigid: Photographer in search of saint's namesakes
- Published
Deirdre Brennan is creating a special series of portraits in recognition of Ireland's only female patron saint.
If you are named Brigid, or know someone who is, there is a photographer who would like to speak with you.
Deirdre Brennan is creating a special series of portraits in honour of Ireland's only female patron saint.
St Brigid is one of Ireland's three official patron saints, along with St Patrick and St Colmcille.
Ms Brennan will be in the Playhouse theatre in Londonderry next week for the project, which is being billed as a celebration of modern-day Irish women.
The photographer is asking each woman to bring an object to hold in their photograph that symbolises their lives, work, interests, achievements or also their relationship to St Brigid.
The project, which started in September, is hoping to be finished for 1 February on the reported anniversary of St Brigid's death.
Ms Brennan said women and children of all ages named Brigid, Bridget, Bríd, or any spelling of the name, can get their portrait taken as part of the project.
Speaking to BBC's The North West Today, the Dublin-born photographer has said the project has taken her all across the island of Ireland.
She said she is particularly hoping to find women named Brigid, who are synonymous with Derry.
Workers leaving Tillie and Henderson's shirt factory in November 1955
"I'm particularly keen to speak to Brigids who were involved in the civil rights movement and who were there in Derry for the Bloody Sunday march on 30 January 1972," she said.
She said she is also hoping to capture any Brigids involved with the hit Channel 4 comedy series Derry Girls and also women who worked in some of the city's 44 historic shirt factories.
Derry was a world leader in shirt production and the city's female workforce powered much of the industrial development of the city.
Who was St Brigid?
St Brigid is one of Ireland's three patron saints
Brigid was a triple goddess of healing, fire and of poetry.
The saint, who took her name, carried some of those associations.
She was reportedly born in 450 AD and died around 525 AD and was the patron saint of poets and midwives.
Brigid's roots lie in the Celtic festival of Imbolc, celebrated at least five millennia ago.
The first Irish bank holiday for St Brigid took place in the Republic of Ireland in February.
In Ireland, 1 February marks the beginning of spring and the celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde - St Brigid's Day.
Brigid's name is synonymous with Kildare as it is believed she founded the Church of Kildare.
Ms Brennan said she has been blown away by the response she has got to her appeal for Brigids on social media and through word-of-mouth.
"I think there have been well over a thousand requests to be a part of the project which I will then have to whittle down to about 50 or 70," Ms Brennan said.
"Everyone has a great story to tell and this is just a way to channel that into this kind of historical archive piece."
Ms Brennan said she has met so many incredible Brigids so far on her search for people with the name.
"I met a woman who was born in Kenya called Brigid, there was also a nun named Brigid who helped set up the first refuge in Cork in the 60s for victims of domestic violence," she said.
The photographer said one of her favourite encounters was meeting the mother of a young girl called Brigid who had Down's syndrome.
"The mum really wanted her daughter to be involved with this project to make sure there is greater representation for people with Down's syndrome," she said.
"The girl also had an incredible story in that she had very serious heart surgery at a young age and was fitted with a valve from a cow and has since went on to live a healthy and full life because of that.
"There's an amazing connection there given Brigid is also the patron saint of cattle."
Ms Brennan hopes her work can highlight the importance of the name Brigid in the modern day and showcase people's own stories for future generations.
- Published1 February 2014
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