Who is the Irish Goddess Brigid?

The Irish goddess Brigid is unusual among deities because she is found in several different religions. References to her are found in ancient Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Christianity and Voodoo.

Both Neo -Pagans and Pagans of old worshiped Brigid as a Celtic pagan triple goddess. The term triple Goddess refers to the belief that some deities have three distinct aspects covering the maiden, mother and crone phases of life. The three fates of Greek mythology are examples of a triple goddess.

Brigid reportedly has power over childbirth, motherhood, smith craft, peace, unity, poetry, inspiration, healing, hearth and home among others.

Legend holds that Brigid began the Irish tradition of keening (crying,wailing, and singing) over the body of a deceased person at a wake. After her son Ruadan died during battle it is said that let out keening such as never been heard or would be heard again. It is also said that Brigid's keening convinced both sides of the battle to leave the field and commit to peace.

Keening has decreased in recent years but is still practiced in Ireland where expert female keeners are often paid to keen over bodies at wakes.

Interestingly Brigid appears in Christianity, specifically in Catholicism in the form of St. Brigit. Catholics claim that St. Brigit lived in Kildare, Ireland which is also the home of the pagan goddess Brigid. An Abbey in Kildare is dedicated to St. Brigit. This is also the location of Brigit's well which folk lore holds is the resting place of the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend.

The Catholic nuns who maintain the Abbey host visitors who have come to Brigit's well and eternal flame. The eternal flame is maintained by 19 nuns that reside at the abbey. Many of the visitors to the abbey are Neo-Pagans who worship Brigit in her Pagan incarnation.