Three Poems for Brigid
Department of Foreign Affairs & Museum of Literature Ireland
As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ St. Brigid’s Day celebrations in 2021, the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) commissioned three original female voices, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Paula Meehan and Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, to illuminate one aspect each of the legend of St. Brigid. Our videos featured performances by Osaro Azams, Ruth McCabe and Caitríona Ennis, paired with music from independent Irish female artists Syn, Dowry and Dreamcycles. These were accompanied by rich visual collages to bring these special new poems from the page to the rest of the world.
Context
Each film showcases one aspect of Brigid, the triple goddess of poetry, healing and craftwork.
Through the poem and accompanying imagery, each film explores the theme as it relates to Irish women from past to present.
“My own breath, old spirit, stirring in the cowled
reflection of the earth geologic, old seas,
old forests wherein once we swung from tree
to waterlogged tree become shale, become coal,
underground tributaries to rivers of oil —
breath lit fuel in their veins. They are fire —
vestal and flame. They are immortal.” – Old Biddy Talk, Paula Meehan
