Brigid of Ireland (Daughters of Ireland Book 1) (32 page)

Glossary

ath (pronounced: AH)
– ford of a river

bodhran (BOD-run)
– hand-held goatskin drum often played with a stick

Brehon (bre-HOON)
– judge of the ancient unwritten Irish laws

crannog (CRAN-uk)
– ancient Irish dwelling or fort built on an island

curragh (CURR-akh – “kh” as in Scottish “loch”)
– a boat made of animal skins on a wooden frame

maimeo (MAH-mo)
– grandma mamai (MAH-mee) – mama

ogham (AW-gum)
– early Irish alphabet in the form of notches inscribed on memorial stones; a stone bearing such writing

Samhain (SOW-in)
– ancient Celtic celebration in early November to mark the beginning of winter; elements of the festival remain in All Soul’s Day and Hallowe’en

seanachaidh (SHAN-a-khee)
– wandering storyteller seanathair (SHAN-a-hir) – grandfather
seanmhathair (SHAN-va-hir)
– grandmother

Tuatha De Danaan (TU-a-ha day da-NAWN)
– lit. “Children of the Goddess Dana”; the pre-Christian gods of Ireland

Aine (AWN-ya)

Cu Chulainn (koo HOO-lin)

Dubtach (DUFF-akh)

Eoghanachta (YOO-an-akh-ta)

Geall (GYAWL0

Maire (MOI-ra)

Author’s Note

St. Brigid of Kildare lived from the late fifth to early sixth century. While, according to most historians, her life did not overlap with St. Patrick’s, she was influenced by him. Much of what is known about her comes from two well-known ancient biographies:
The Life of St. Brigit the Virgin
by the eighth century monk Cogitosus, who was from Kildare, the site of Brigid’s duel monastery; and
Beatha Bhrighdi (The Life of Brigid)
in the
Leabhar Breac
(The Speckled Book)
, dating to the 15th century. There were others written about her and these numerous accounts sometimes contradict each other. Many people believe that the legends of the goddess Brigid and the life of the real St. Brigid have merged over time, and this is likely true to some extent. The stories are so fanciful that Joseph A. Knowles, writing in his
St. Brigid, Patroness of Ireland
, felt compelled to offer this caution to readers of the ancient works on Brigid: “In a life of the Saint…many legends and traditions must be introduced to stimulate the devotion of the reader, and to relieve the monotony which would inevitably ensue from a mere studied recital of historical detail.” He goes on to quote a translator who urged that the stories be read with an understanding of the mindset and traditions of the ancient people. Ah, a good Irish tale! The Irish have a saying: “Don’t let the truth get in the way of what really happened!” All of this is what makes Brigid’s story a fascinating theme for a novel. What I’ve written are my own fictional interpretations of a life that was most certainly lived in service to others.

In my story there is good and evil on both sides, whether Christian or pagan. But as Brigid has taught me, God’s light has the ability to shine everywhere and on everyone.