History of Brighid's Perpetual Flame

Located on the northern side of St. Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare, are the restored remnants of the ancient fire temple dedicated to Brigid.

Remnants from the old Abbey

Kildare Cathedral in Ruin. (John Dawson, c. 1780, NLI)

The Abbey and Round Tower at Kildare. Note the ruins of the Fire Temple to the left. (Rev. Mr. Seymour, 1783, Beranger Collection, UCD)

The Perpetual Flame at Solas Bhride

The Perpetual Flame sculpture located in Kildare's town square.

Brighid stands out as one of the most intricate Goddesses within the Celtic pantheon, and she holds a significant place as a powerful religious figure in Irish history. The narratives surrounding Brighid the Goddess and the Christian Saint Brighid are deeply intertwined, making it challenging to distinguish between historical fact and myth. However, elements of her Christian narrative suggest a strong pagan heritage.
Brighid is the daughter of Dagda and a prominent member of the Tuathe de' Danann. She is traditionally linked to fire, poetry, unity, childbirth, and healing. According to legend, Brigid maintained a shrine in Kildare, Ireland, where a perpetual flame was cared for by nineteen priestesses. The exact duration for which these priestesses tended the flame remains a mystery, but it likely has roots that stretch back to prehistory. This eternal flame was tended by nineteen Virgins, symbolizing the nineteen-year metonic lunar cycle—a span of 235 lunar months, or 19 years, after which the moon's phases align perfectly with those of the previous cycle. The significance of the moon was paramount to the astronomer-priests of pagan traditions, and the number 19 recurs throughout various pagan mythologies and megalithic sites globally.

Approximately in 470 BC, a monastery was established at the location of the temple where the vigil of the eternal flame had previously taken place. Initially referred to as Druim Criaidh, meaning the Ridge of Clay, the area eventually became known as Cill-Dara, or the Church of the Oak, in honor of the majestic oak tree cherished by St. Brighid. Consequently, a sacred flame was kept alive in Kildare from early days of Christian times and the custom of keeping the fire alight continued; the fire now representing the new light of Christianity tended to by 19 nuns, called the Daughters of the Flame. They kept her perpetual flame lit, ensuring it was never extinguished.

In the 12th century, the Welsh chronicler Giraldus Cambrensis, also known as Gerald of Wales, made a visit to Kildare. He noted that the fire of Saint Brighid was still alight, tended by twenty "servants of the Lord." This clearly alludes to the tradition where, for nineteen days, a different priestess or nun would keep watch over the sacred flame, with Brigid herself tending to it on the twentieth day. By the time Gerald documented this, the fire had been burning continuously for at least 600 years, and likely even longer. Remarkably, the ashes had never been cleared away, yet they never seemed to accumulate.

Throughout history, no man was ever permitted to approach the sacred eternal flame, and the women who tended to it were equally forbidden from mingling with men. As a result, all their provisions were delivered by women from the nearby village. A protective hedge encircled the fire, creating an impenetrable barrier for any male. One tale speaks of a man who dared to breach this boundary, only to lose his sanity. Another story recounts a near escape; as a man’s leg crossed the threshold, his friends yanked him back, but the leg that had ventured beyond was left injured, leaving him crippled for life. While the legendary hedge with its mystical powers has long since vanished, its legacy remains, having safeguarded the flame from male intruders by dooming them to madness, death, or disfigurement.

In 1220 AD, a Bishop took issue with the policy that barred men from entering the Abbey of Saint Brigid of Kildare. The Archbishop of Dublin, Henry of London, argued that since nuns were under the authority of priests, the abbey should be subject to inspection by a male priest. The nuns, however, stood their ground, insisting that any inspections should be conducted by a female authority, like another Abbess. This defiance did not sit well with the Bishop, who declared that maintaining the eternal flame was a remnant of Paganism and ordered it to be extinguished. Although the flame was briefly snuffed out, the local community quickly reignited it, allowing the Eternal flame to endure until the monasteries were suppressed in the sixteenth century. During this period, King Henry VIII ordered the dismantling of numerous monasteries, leading to the extinguishing of the Eternal flame, a loss that would linger in memory.

In 1988, the remnants believed to be the temple's foundations were restored, rising about 20 inches above the ground. The structure features a rectangular shape, with a modest set of steps that lead into the enclosure. Today, it is regarded as a shrine, adorned with various offerings left by visitors, reminiscent of the Rag trees found at sacred wells throughout the country.

In 1993, during a conference named “Brighid: Prophetess, Earthwoman, Peacemaker,” which marked the tenth anniversary of the Saint Brighid’s Peace Cross Project, Mary Teresa Cullen, who was the leader of the Brigidine Sisters at the time, reignited the Eternal flame in a ceremony held in Kildare’s Market Square. Since that moment, the Brigidine Sisters have been tending the flame at their center, 'Solas Bhride' (Light of Brigid) in Kildare.

In that same year, a small collective led by Mael Bridge, known as The Daughters of the Flame, began nurturing their own flames in tribute to Brighid. Five years later, with Mael's blessing, a member named Kim initiated Ord Brighideach, aspiring to establish multiple groups within the Order that would also welcome men. Over the years, as social networking became more accessible, numerous other groups emerged, following suit. Similar to the Priestesses and Sisters, each group comprises 19 flametenders who operate on a 20-day rotation, with Brighid herself tending to the flame on the 20th day. Each vigil lasts for 24 hours, commencing and concluding at dusk.

In 2005, Kildare County Council commissioned a striking sculpture to encase the flame in Kildare Town Square. This artwork features a spiraled column that gracefully opens at the top into a bronze acorn cup, cradling the flame surrounded by oak leaves. This design beautifully ties back to the Druidic roots of the legend of Brigid, echoing the name of Kildare, 'Cill Dara', which translates to the Church of the Oak.

​On February 1st, 2006, St. Brighid’s Day, President Mary McAleese had the honor of lighting the Perpetual Flame in the Town Square. This flame was ignited from the one cared for by the Brigidine Sisters at Solas Bhride. It serves as a shining symbol of hope, justice, and peace for both our nation and the world. The flame continues to be nurtured at Solas Bhride.