'Cruinniú cairde' big tent poetry — holiday celebration, or an anti-celebration

Brigid of faughart and seven virgins of Croghan 
roaming the Hill of Tara performing miracles.
Dressed in green frocks with purple sleeves.


They begin to gather wood and kindling to
build a magnificent fire. 
Picking blackberries from the bushes,
smearing the juice on their cheeks,
creating symbolic forms before
shedding their clothes under the trees.
Forming a circle, the dance begins,
while reaching for colourful ribbons
in the wind, hanging from the highest branches.

They chant:
“We’ll shoot the stars and ask for answers.”
The festivities have begun …

St Patrick and Dubhthach are
arriving from Lienster in their carriage
with stately horses – two by two.

We will pass communion wine
sheathed in amber-colored skins while
paying homage to the elements …
as Brigid of faughart, St Patrick and Dubhuthach
chase the snakes away.


process notes:
Saint Brigit of Kildare, or Brigit of Ireland, nicknamed Mary of the Gael (Irish: Naomh Bríd)
(c. 451–525) is one of Ireland's patron saints along with Saints Patrick and Columba. Irish hagiography makes her an early Irish Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries. Her feast day is 1 February, celebrated as St Brigid’s Day or Imbolc in Gaelic Ireland. Dubhthach her father, an Irish chieftain, was baptized by St Patrick. 

The title means 'Circle of friends' in Irish Gaelic.