Our History
Ord Brighideach
A Brighidine Order of Flamekeepers
It's been a year and a half since I took on the role of Abbess of Ord Brighideach. The history of our Order is important to me, especially since I only found Ord Brighideach in 2019. By researching, finding some old snapshots of our old websites, and asking long-time members of the community, I've been able to piece some of our history together.
In 1997 Kim Diane, who had been a member of the Daughters of the Flame started Ord Brighideach - The Order of Brighid. Her goal was to make service to Brighid available on a large scale to both women and men, strictly through the Internet. The oldest snapshot of our website I was able to find was from 2001, the "Three Fold Flame" and the quote by Cormac's Glossary that is on our front page, has actually been part of our welcome page from what I can tell from the start.
At that time there were 22 Cills, with over 350 Flamekeepers. We were represented in 14 different countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, North Ireland), and the United States of America.
In 1997 Kim Diane, who had been a member of the Daughters of the Flame started Ord Brighideach - The Order of Brighid. Her goal was to make service to Brighid available on a large scale to both women and men, strictly through the Internet. The oldest snapshot of our website I was able to find was from 2001, the "Three Fold Flame" and the quote by Cormac's Glossary that is on our front page, has actually been part of our welcome page from what I can tell from the start.
At that time there were 22 Cills, with over 350 Flamekeepers. We were represented in 14 different countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, North Ireland), and the United States of America.
The above picture was what you were greeted with when first entering our website. I would love to know if there was a specific reason this picture was chosen. Interestingly enough when I tried to find the history of this picture, I found it was used on several older spiritual websites.
This second photo of a door had a link to another website showing pictures of St. Brighid's Catherdral. Unfortuately those pictures are no longer visable.
The was a webpage with Oath's written by members, this one although short, truly touched my heart.
A Bhrighid
by Dan, Cill Cuileann 9th
Help my ears to hear your words
Help my heart to understand them
Help my hands to do their work
and keep the fire burning bright.
Beannachta Bhrighid dhuit,
Dan, Cill Cuileann, 9th
At the time when members joined there was a $20.00 membership fee, this allowed them to send a candle with the 'flame' of Kildare to each new member, and to pay for administration cost. (I had heard from several long time members about receiving such a candle and I wondered how they were able to afford to do this, considering cost of postage, and now I know.) Below is a picture of letter, prayer and candle.
The was a webpage with Oath's written by members, this one although short, truly touched my heart.
A Bhrighid
by Dan, Cill Cuileann 9th
Help my ears to hear your words
Help my heart to understand them
Help my hands to do their work
and keep the fire burning bright.
Beannachta Bhrighid dhuit,
Dan, Cill Cuileann, 9th
At the time when members joined there was a $20.00 membership fee, this allowed them to send a candle with the 'flame' of Kildare to each new member, and to pay for administration cost. (I had heard from several long time members about receiving such a candle and I wondered how they were able to afford to do this, considering cost of postage, and now I know.) Below is a picture of letter, prayer and candle.
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At some point, they combined the letter and prayer to one page.
There was also an online mailing called Brighid's Crossing that members were able to sign up for, to exchange news about the community.
Here is an exert from Brighid's Crossing 10 Sep 1998:
From Ruadhan (Kim Diane at one time used this name) A List of Suggestion regarding Celebrating Brighid
I woke this morning with Gary's question about ritual on my mind - here are my thoughts.....
A basic ritual format for me would include the following;
• A fire (and for me the singing of "Rise Up Oh Flame is an invocation")
•An offering (milk, ale, or the finest of a feast), poetry and some type of healing aspect. This might be speaking to Brighid about people who have requested support. It could be supporting each other by combing hair, massaging feet, or a hands on energy healing. We are all learning reiki in our monthly group. We have found it effectife if we have a theme for each month. You might try working with:
Her animal associations
Colors
Pleants (dandelion), herbcrafting, gardening, making tinctures, oils, etc.
Trees (willow, rowan, oak, ash)
Crafts - smithing, weaving, dying, brewing, candle making - making Brighid's crosses/dolls/belts is a great thing to do on Imbolc.
Poetry - making poetry together (exquisite corpse), reciting others work or our own.
Storytelling
Aspect as mother, household goddess, midwife, newborns, mother goddess
Keening
Rivers, wells
Fires of the forge, caldron and head
Working magic/trandformation
Protection
Herds, livestock
Smooring
Household
Cloak, girdle, mantle
Poetry, Imbas, Awen, seers, filidh
Druidess/ ban-drui
Augury, prophesy, divination, dreaming
Ogham
Law, justice, mediator, history, eduction
Music, harp
Fertility, new life, renewal, abundance
Virgin, Sheela-na-gig
Generosity, hospitality
Liminality (boundary symbolism)
Aspects as a member of the Tuathe de Danann, Daughter of the Dagda, Wife of Bres, son Ruadhan, etc.
Christian aspects
Meaning of her name
As Brigantia, Cailleach Bearra, Maman Brigitte, Minerva/Silus Minerva, Saint Ffraud
Hope this gives a start for what you were looking for...other suggestions anyone? Ruadha/n
Here is an exert from Brighid's Crossing 10 Sep 1998:
From Ruadhan (Kim Diane at one time used this name) A List of Suggestion regarding Celebrating Brighid
I woke this morning with Gary's question about ritual on my mind - here are my thoughts.....
A basic ritual format for me would include the following;
• A fire (and for me the singing of "Rise Up Oh Flame is an invocation")
•An offering (milk, ale, or the finest of a feast), poetry and some type of healing aspect. This might be speaking to Brighid about people who have requested support. It could be supporting each other by combing hair, massaging feet, or a hands on energy healing. We are all learning reiki in our monthly group. We have found it effectife if we have a theme for each month. You might try working with:
Her animal associations
Colors
Pleants (dandelion), herbcrafting, gardening, making tinctures, oils, etc.
Trees (willow, rowan, oak, ash)
Crafts - smithing, weaving, dying, brewing, candle making - making Brighid's crosses/dolls/belts is a great thing to do on Imbolc.
Poetry - making poetry together (exquisite corpse), reciting others work or our own.
Storytelling
Aspect as mother, household goddess, midwife, newborns, mother goddess
Keening
Rivers, wells
Fires of the forge, caldron and head
Working magic/trandformation
Protection
Herds, livestock
Smooring
Household
Cloak, girdle, mantle
Poetry, Imbas, Awen, seers, filidh
Druidess/ ban-drui
Augury, prophesy, divination, dreaming
Ogham
Law, justice, mediator, history, eduction
Music, harp
Fertility, new life, renewal, abundance
Virgin, Sheela-na-gig
Generosity, hospitality
Liminality (boundary symbolism)
Aspects as a member of the Tuathe de Danann, Daughter of the Dagda, Wife of Bres, son Ruadhan, etc.
Christian aspects
Meaning of her name
As Brigantia, Cailleach Bearra, Maman Brigitte, Minerva/Silus Minerva, Saint Ffraud
Hope this gives a start for what you were looking for...other suggestions anyone? Ruadha/n
The website would change slightly over the next few years, adding a dark background and taking down the tree photo.
From September of 2002 to sometime in September 2004 they had stopped taking members. Then in October 2004 the website was redone using a picture of St. Bridget's statue at her well Liscannor, in Clare County, Ireland.
From September of 2002 to sometime in September 2004 they had stopped taking members. Then in October 2004 the website was redone using a picture of St. Bridget's statue at her well Liscannor, in Clare County, Ireland.
St. Bridget's statue at her well Liscannor, in Clare County, Ireland.
In December of 2005, the sight would change again, this one stating that the website was under reconstruction. It would stay this way until June 2006. At this time the website was simplified. Brighid's Crossing was stopped and Brighid's Hearth (an online forum) was started. It was also announced that they would no longer be charging a joining fee, but this would mean the candles would no longer be sent to new members. The pictures below were now found on the home page of the website and would remain on our home page until Abbess Rose had the website redone in 2019.
Brigid's Well Kildare, Ireland
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Brigid's Well Kildare, Ireland
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In August 2007, the website took a major revamp. It was renamed Ord Brighideach International. The new platform allowed the Order to have its own forum instead of using a separate website as they had with Brighid's Hearth. It also allowed members to be able to add their own poetry and prayers to the website. At this time members needed to rejoin each year and were asked to make a donation of their choice for their membership fee. There were many new and wonderful features on the website and it was hoped that the donations would make it possible to continue to grow in this way.
