St. Brigid: So Legendary, We Named a Still for Her
We’re raising a glass to a true legend—St. Brigid of Kildare! If you’ve visited our Cocktail Room and Distillery, you might have seen our first 1,000-gallon still, named Brigid, in honor of her incredible legacy and claim to fame, turning water into beer!
Check out these fascinating facts that prove she’s worthy of her title!
1. Patroness of Many
St. Brigid of Kildare is the Patroness of Ireland. Brigid is the Patron saint of dairy farmers and cattle, midwives and childbirth, poetry, healing, brewing, and blacksmiths - making her a perfect namesake for our still, as our Distillery namesake Brother Justus was trained as a tinsmith and blacksmith!
Stained Glass featuring St. Brigid
2. Pagan Goddess or Saint?
Some believe she is a Christian adaptation of the Celtic goddess Brigid, sharing associations with wisdom, poetry, and healing. They share a Feast Day of February 1, too!
3. Born into Slavery, Known for Generosity.
Born in 452 AD to an enslaved mother, she was known for giving away food and possessions to the poor, even as a child.
4. Most Dramatic Way to Stay Single.
Legend has it that she gouged out her eye to avoid marriage. When she took her vows to become a nun, her eye was returned, as if never gone.
Kildare Cathedral, built on the site of the original Kildare Abbey
5. Founder of Ireland’s First Nunnery.
At 21, she obtained the land to found Kildare Abbey. She chose the name Kildare from the Irish “Cill Dara,” meaning Church of the Oak.
6. Beer-Making Miracle.
She turned water into beer, providing ale for 20 churches. That’s our kind of miracle – especially because all whiskey starts out as beer!
7. A Perpetual Fire Burns in Her Honor.
A sacred flame, originally lit by priestesses honoring the goddess Brigid, continues to burn today in Kildare, tended to by Brigidine Sisters.
St. Brigid’s Cross
8. Her Iconic Cross.
Brigid’s crosses, woven from straw, are made on her feast day. It’s believed that hanging one in your home brings her blessing and protection.
9. Her Skull Traveled for Over 1,000 Years.
After her remains were moved to escape Viking raids, separated by crusading knights, then moved again during the reign of Henry VIII, a portion of her skull was finally returned to Kildare in 2024.
10. O.G. Feminist.
Whether saint, pagan goddess, or a bit of both, the tales of St. Brigid’s legacy is a powerful example of resiliency in a world that was designed to keep her and other women down.
You May Also Like…
All Things Whiskey, Straight To Your Inbox
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.