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For some 30 years now My project, called Amhra (pronounced ‘Avra’, an Old Irish
I have been travelling word for a eulogy or praise poem), is concerned with
between Ireland and collecting all of these offices and making them available again
continental Europe tracking the history of Irish saints and as publicly shared cultural heritage, for educational purposes,
their activities at home and abroad. While my main focus is on and to heighten awareness of the importance of Ireland in the
manuscripts held in research libraries, I have been continually formation and development of the European idea (promoting
struck by the presence in public spaces of names such as peace and cooperation across borders), not only politically
Brigid, Columbanus, Dympna, Fiachra, Fursa, Gall, Kilian and but also in terms of social values and wellbeing. I have
others, associated with churches, statues, relics, and indeed documented all of the materials known to me (others may still
streets, in France, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Italy, Portugal. come to light). And in due course, further funding permitting,
I hope to create an open-access website including all of the
Hidden from public view are further treasures which are songs and texts (including English translation) and stories
unknown to all but a handful of specialists. Several hundred associated with the saints concerned, digital copies of the
manuscripts are preserved today in libraries all over Europe
containing liturgical offices for Irish saints: these are specially manuscripts, and distribution maps illustrating the itineraries
and foundations associated with Irish saints in Ireland, Britain
composed chants, hymns, and prayers which were used in and continental Europe. Although originally in Latin, the
monasteries and cathedrals throughout Europe to celebrate website would include English translation of the texts, as well
their feastdays for over 500 years and more. They also as recordings and performances, podcasts, blogs, and a space
include readings about the lives of the saints, and both these
and the chants are full of stories praising their good works for public discussion.
and activities. I have been fortunate in receiving generous financial support
from the Irish Research Council over several years. And this
This impulse continues today, is what has enabled me to travel, work in libraries, and indeed
for example, in the case of fund me personally while undertaking the research. This next
St Brigid of Kildare, Ireland’s phase, preparing the materials for online access, meeting
most renowned female saint. library costs for making digital copies of manuscripts,
As secondary (and primary
female) patron of Ireland after producing educational materials, and organising public
events, will require considerable further resources to support
St Patrick, she is becoming an the work over the next 2–3 years. I am hopeful that this
increasingly prominent figure will materialise with the help of additional funding. I feel
in the annual calendar as an passionately that such an extensive and important body of
exemplary model for our times:
with the strength of her faith not Irish heritage deserves to be shared and enjoyed, and not
remain hidden in the archives and between the covers of
only in word but also in deed, specialist journals.
as witness her charitable works, her care for animals and
the earth, her promotion of peace; as well as her remarkable BACKGROUND
resilience and diplomatic skills in achieving her objectives
as founder and first abbess of the renowned monastery of The early Irish monks were educated at the renowned
Kildare. Brigid now has her own national holiday in Ireland, monastic schools of medieval Ireland, such as Clonard,
and this is resulting in a host of thoughtful and celebratory Glendalough, Tallaght, Clonmacnoise, Bangor, producing
events, including greater awareness of the role and scholars who became known all over Europe as leading
contribution of women to society; the importance of ecology, thinkers, writers, and educators. Many new monasteries were
and awareness of our relationship to the Earth, to peace, and founded abroad by Irish churchmen and their successors —
to one another.

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