Part I: The Beads
The Chaplet of Saint Bridget of Kildare is a Celtic chaplet dedicated to Brìghde — the Mary of the Gaels. Like other chaplets, they are a string of devotional beads used to structure prayer, contemplation, and devotion. Their distinctive form, however, is rooted in the Celtic sacred year and in devotion to Brìghde as well as to Mary Madonna (MorRigan ard ga h-uile).
Where the Roman Rosary is traditionally divided into five decades of ten beads, the Bridget Beads are divided into eight sections of nine beads called Nonads, corresponding to the eight turning points of the sacred year:
1)Samhain · 2)Winter Solstice · 3)Imbolg · 4)Spring Equinox ·5) Bealtaine · 6)Summer Solstice · 7)Lughnasadh · 8)Autumn Equinox
Each Nonad is separated from the next by a larger festival bead, analogous to the Pater Noster beads of Roman rosaries. Each festival bead marks one of the eight great threshold Festivals of the year.
The scapulary bead itself serves as one of the eight festival beads, forming part of the annual cycle.
The scapulary is flanked by two particular stones. A sunstone to the right and a moonstone to the left, representing the great celestial rhythms of light and darkness by which the year itself is ordered.
The beads also have a distinct opening set. Before entering the cycle are three beads, preceded by a pendant or tassel, with the cords of the tassel traditionally arranged in multiples of three (for the Trinity). From this opening sequence, the chaplet passes into the scapulary and then into the cyclical arrangement of the sacred year.
The beads also embody another fundamental division of the Celtic year. One half of the chaplet is composed of light-coloured beads, representing the light or summer half of the year, while the other half is composed of dark-coloured beads, representing the dark or winter half. The chaplet therefore contemplates the whole of the Wheel of the Year — the Wheel of the Year being physically represented in the chaplet’s organization itself.
Why nine?
The trinity of creation multiplied upon itself is the nonad of manifestation.
In Gaelic, naoi means “nine,” while naomh/noimh belongs to the semantic field of holiness and sanctity: holy, sacred, and saintly, cloudy, and heavenly. The relationship between naoi and naomh/noimh gives nine a particularly poetic and theological resonance such that the ninth is associated with the holy.
This is especially apparent in the Gaelic poetic wordplay surrounding Saints, such as Noimh Brighid, which can be understood as Holy Bridget, Saint Bridget, or Ninth Bridget. The ambiguity brings number, Heavenly, and sainthood together in a distinctly Gaelic form of Poetic Correlation.
Thus each Nonad of the Bridget Beads is composed of nine beads — naoi, the holy number — through which the prayers of the petitioner are ordered for manifestation.
The Chaplet of Bridget is a proper Celtic chaplet in its own right: whose structure emulates the ancient eightfold sacred year and whose devotion is centred upon Brìghde whose name means “Bright”, the Mary of the Gaels, and Queen of the forge.
There is also an important distinction in how the chaplet is prayed.
The Bridget’s Chaplet is not restricted to a single set of prayers. Rather, the chaplet provides a sacred framework within which different prayers, invocations, devotions, meditations, and intentionings may be combined according to the need, purpose, season, or desire of the person praying.
The Chaplet provides the sacred architecture.
The prayer brings that architecture to life.
Part II: Brìghde, the Mary of the Gaels
To understand the Bridget’s chaplet, it is necessary to understand Brìghde.
Long before she was honoured as Saint Brigid of Kildare, Brìghde belonged to the sacred traditions of the Gaels, a powerful feminine figure, Daughter of the Dagda (“the good-God”), associated with fire, poetry, healing, fertility, and the arts of skill and smithcraft. She stands at the meeting place of inspiration and craftsmanship: the poet’s fire, the smith’s fire, the hearth fire, and the living fire of the land. It is she who kindles in the head of humankind the fire of thought.
Her name and tradition survived the coming of Christianity; they did not disappear. Brìghde became Saint Brigid, the great Irish saint whose feast is celebrated at the beginning of February, on the festival that was once called Imbolg (the birthing of the lambs), at the threshold between winter and spring. The Christian tradition surrounding her remained filled with the imagery of her older sacred character: fire, healing, abundance, protection, hospitality, and the renewal of life.
But there is another reason Brigid is called Mary of the Gaels, and it reaches directly into the Christian story.
According to the Irish tradition, on Christmas night Brigid heard, from Ireland, the sigh of Mary Madonna as she gave birth to Christ in Bethlehem. The biblical story tells us that Mary’s labour was eased by God and that she did not cry out in the night; Brigid, hearing that soft sigh across the sea, was moved by the spirit to run to Bethlehem to serve the Madonna and newborn Christ.
There she became the Móime Chríost — the nursemaid of Christ.
And Brigid did not simply appear at the Nativity only to depart. No, according to the tradition, she followed Christ throughout his ministry, remaining among those who witnessed his life and teaching. She was ultimately present at Golgotha, standing at the foot of that mighty tree whereupon the flower of Jesse bloomed, beside Mary Madonna, and Mary Magdalene.
In was there and in that way that Brigid became the Mary among the Gaels.
The early Irish Life of Brigit gives this identity a remarkable Christian expression. Bishop Ibor of the Quattuor sanctissimi Episcopi (the “four most sacred bishops”), along with Saints Ailbe, Ciarán, and Déclán, recounts a vision in which he saw the Virgin Mary and was told, “This is Mary who will dwell among you.” When Brigit subsequently appeared before the assembly, he identified her as the Mary of his vision.
The tradition therefore gives Brigid a uniquely Gaelic place within the story of Christ.
In the Gaelic tradition, the Three Marys also mirror the ancient threefold Divine feminine known from old Sean nos tradition. The sacred triad, which once found expression through the Triple Goddess, so finds its new expression in Christian devotional tradition through Mary Madonna, Mary Magdalene, and Brigid (The Mary of the Gaels). The old pattern remains: three women, three sacred presences, three faces of a single mystery inculcated within the story of Christ.
In the Gaelic Christian tradition, the number three is never merely arithmetical. It is the language of the sacred triad: threefold presence, threefold expression, the meeting of three aspects within one mystery. The one Eternity that expresses itself in Trinity.
Thus Brìghde carries forward the ancient threefold character of her sacred identity into the Christian story, by allowing the ancient imagery to find novelty of expression in a living Christ.
She is fire and inspiration, hearth and sanctuary, craft and creativity, healing and abundance, spring and renewal. She stands at the threshold where winter becomes spring and darkness begins to yield to light.
The Chaplet of Bridget is a Celtic chaplet in its own right, rooted in the sacred Trinity and centred upon Brìghde, the Mary of the Gaels.
They give us a way to walk through the sacred year with Brìghde.
The Bridget Beads — Part III: Entering Prayer
The Chaplet of Bridget is prayed in the presence of fire.
Before the Chaplet is taken up, a fire is kindled and dedicated. At the heart of this dedication is the Descent of Brìghde, Sloinntearachd na Brighd — the traditional invocation of Brìghde by her names, lineage, attributes, and protection, derived from Alexander Carmichael’s great Highland collection, the Carmina Gadelica.
Opening of the Chaplet of St Bridget
Descent of Bridget
bi leum fhein be with us
Brighid nighean Dùghaill Duinn Brighde. Brigit daughter of Dugall the Brown
‘Ic Aoidh ‘ic Cuinn ‘ic Son of Aodh son of Art son of Conn b
Criara ‘ic Caibre ‘ic Cais ‘ic Son of Criara son of Cairbre son of Cas
Carmaic ‘ic Cartaich ‘ic Cuinn Son of Cormac son of Cartach son of Conn
Brighde nam brat, Brigit of the mantles,
Brighde na brig, Brigit of the peat-heap,
Brighde nan cleachd, Brigit of the twining hair,
Brighde na frìth. Brigit of the augury.
Brighde nan gealachos, Brigit of the white feet,
Brighde na bìth, Brigit of the calmness,
Brighde nan gealaphos, Brigit of the white palms,
Brighde na nì. Brigit of the kine.
Brighde bean chomainn, Brigit, woman-comrade,
Brighde na brig, Brigit of the peat-heap,
Brighde bean chobhair, Brigit, woman-helper,
Brighde bean mhìn. Brigit, woman mild.
Brighde ciabh Moire, Brigit, own tress of Mary
Brighde Moime Chrìosd, – Brigit, Nurse of Christ,
Gach latha agus gach oidhche Each day and each night
Nì mi Sloinntearachd na Brighd, That I say the Descent of Brigit,
Cha mharbhar mi I shall not be slain,
Cha ghuinear mi, I shall not be wounded
Cha charachar mi, I shall not be put in cell,
Cha ghonar mi, I shall not be gashed,
Cha spaltar mi, I shall not be torn in sunder,
Cha spùillear mi, I shall not be despoiled
Cha saltrar mi, I shall not be down-trodden
Cha rùisgear mi, I shall not be made naked,
Cha reubar mi, I shall not be rent
Cha mhó dh’fhàgas Nor will Christ (the Seanachie)
Crìosd (am Seanachaidh)an dearmad mi. Leave me forgotten
Cha loisg grian mi, Nor sun shall burn me,
Cha loisg teine mi, Nor fire shall burn me,
Cha loisg ial mi, Nor beam shall burn me,
Cha loisg gile mi. Nor moon shall burn me.
Cha bhàth uisge mi, Nor river shall drown me,
Cha bhàth sàla mi, Nor brine shall drown me,
Cha bhàth lighe mi, Nor flood shall drown me,
Cha bhàth burn mi. Nor water shall drown me.
Cha laigh bruaill-brì orm, Nightmare shall not lie on me,
Cha laigh suan-dubh orm, Black sleep shall not lie on me
Cha laigh druaill-drì orm, Spell sleep shall not lie on me,
Cha laigh luaths-luis orm. “ Luaths-luis” shall not lie on me.
Tha mi for chomraig I am under the keeping
Mo Naomh Moire; Of my Saint Mary,
‘S I mo chaombh chomainn My companion, beloved
Brigit.
2. Three Kyries
Kyrie eleison. A Thigherna Dean trocaire Lord have mercy
Christe eleison. Mo Chriosd Dean trocaire Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison. A Thigherna Dean trocaire Lord have mercy
3 The scapulary: there are 2 options:
A) Evlogetaria for the Dead
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The choir of the saints has found the fountain of life and the door of Paradise. May I also find the way through repentance; I am the sheep that was lost, call me up to You, O Savior, and save me.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
You who did fashion me of old out of nothingness, and with Your Image Divine did honor me; but because of the transgressions of Your commandments, did return me again to the earth from whence I was taken; lead me back to be refashioned into that ancient beauty of Your likeness.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
I am the image of Your unutterable glory, though I bear the scars of my stumblings. Have compassion upon me, the works of Your hands, O sovereign Lord, and cleanse me through Your loving-kindness; and the homeland of my heart’s desire bestow on me, by making me a citizen of Paradise.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
Give rest, O God, to the souls of Your servants, and appoint for them a place in Paradise, where the choirs of the saints, O Lord, and the just will shine forth like stars; to Your servants that are sleeping now give rest, overlooking all their offenses.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Mother.
The triune radiance of the One Godhead with reverent songs acclaiming, let us cry;
Holy are You, O eternal Father, and Son also eternal, and Mother Divine;
shine with Your light on us who with faith adore You, and from the fire eternal rescue us. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Hail, O gracious Lady, who in the flesh bears God for the salvation of all; and through whom the human race has found salvation; through You may we find Paradise, Theotokos, our Lady pure and blessed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; Glory to You, our God
OR:
B) From Audacht Morann:
Toleci dorche do sorchi Darkness yields to light
Toleci bron do failti Sorrow yields to joy
Toleci borb do ecnu An oaf yields to a sage
Toleci doer do soer A serf yields to a freeman
Toleci dochell do chothaib inhospitality yields to hospitality
Toleci neoitiu do gart Niggardliness yields to generosity
Toleci cailte do eslabrai Avarice yields to liberality
Toleci discire do fossti impetuosity yields to discretion
Tolcei dofeth do giallni Anarchy yields to proper rule
Toleci anflaith do firflaith False rule yields to true rulership
Toleci debuith do chori Conflict yields to peace
Toleci go do fir falsehood yields to truth
The Moonstone — Because the Gaelic Day begins at Sunset.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Then with each Nonad there are 2 options:
A) The Trisagion version:
On each of the nine beads of the nonad the Trisagion is said:
A Dia Naomh, Ard Chumachdach Naomh, Sior Mharaineach Naomh dean trogair oirnn
Holy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal Have mercy upon us
Or the
B) The Taize version:
Refrain
Amen, ‘s fìrinneach tha mi ag ràdh,
dithis no triùir nam ainm,
tha mi maille ribh.
Amen, truly I say to you,
gather in my name,
I am with you.
Bead 1
Is beannaichte bochd nan spiorad,
Is leo rìoghachd nèimh.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
The Kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Bead 2
Is beannaichte luchd a’ bhròin,
Gheibh iad sòlas.
Blessed are those who mourn,
They shall be consoled.
Bead 3
Is beannaichte na daoine macanta,
Sealbhaichidh iad an talamh.
Blessed are the gentle,
They shall inherit the land.
Pause / Refrain
Amen, ‘s fìrinneach tha mi ag ràdh,
dithis no triùir nam ainm,
tha mi maille ribh.
Amen, truly I say to you,
gather in my name,
I am with you.
Bead 4
s beannaichte luchd acras is pathadh fìreantachd.
Is leòsan ceartas Dhè.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst,
For the righteousness of God.
Bead 5
Is beannaichte na daoine tròcaireach,
Gheibh iad tròcair.
Blessed are the merciful,
Mercy shall be shown unto them.
Bead 6
Is beannaichte am fìorghlan nan cridhe,
Chì iad an Dia.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
They shall behold their God.
Pause / Refrain
Amen, ‘s fìrinneach tha mi ag ràdh,
dithis no triùir nam ainm,
tha mi maille ribh.
Amen, truly I say to you,
gather in my name,
I am with you.
Bead 7
Is beannaichte luchd-dèanamh na sìthe,
Goirear clann Dhè dhiubh.
Blessed are those who bring peace,
They shall be children of God.
Bead 8
Is beannaichte an dream a tha a’ fulang airson na còrach,
Is leòsan rìoghachd nèimh.
Blessed are those who suffer in the cause of right,
The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Bead 9
Is beannaichte an geur-leanmhainn nam ainm,
Is mòr an duais nèamhaidh aca.
Blessed are those persecuted in my name,
Great shall be their heavenly reward.
Pause / Refrain
Amen, ‘s fìrinneach tha mi ag ràdh,
dithis no triùir nam ainm,
tha mi maille ribh.
Amen, truly I say to you,
gather in my name,
I am with you.
Festival Bead has 2 options:
A)The Lord’s prayer:The Lord’s Prayer — Ùrnaigh an Tighearna
Ar n-Athair a tha air nèamh,
Gu naomhaichear d’ainm.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thigeadh do rìoghachd.
Dèanar do thoil air an talamh, mar a nìthear air nèamh.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Tabhair dhuinn an-diugh ar n-aran làitheil.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Agus maith dhuinn ar fiachan,
amhail a mhaitheas sinne dar luchd-fiach.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Agus na leig ann am buaireadh sinn;
ach saor sinn o olc:
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from the evil one.
Oir is leatsa an rìoghachd, agus an cumhachd, agus a’ glòir, gu sìorraidh.
Amen.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.
Or
B)the prayer of St Columba of Iona:
Alone with none but thee my God,
I journey on my way,
What need I fear when thou art near,
Oh King of night and day.
More safe am I within thy hand,
Than if a host did around me stand.
Continue until you get to the Sunstone, that the light of Dawn might chase away your shadows,
here say the prayer of St Francis one last time:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Chaplet of Saint Bridget of Kildare:
Lighting the fire:
Togaigh mi mo teine and diugh I will kindle my fire this morning
fo suil Bride agus am Tuatha de Dannan
Beneath the eyes of St.Bridget and the Tuatha de Dannan
Brighid fhaodhaid fhein ann mo chridh steach Bridget kindle in my innermost heart
Aingheal graidh ‘na m’chomhearsnach A flame of love for my neighbour
Do m’namh, do m’dhamh, do m’ chairde To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all
Do ‘n t-saoidh, do m’damh, do n’traille to the brave, to the knave, to the thrall
Gun gnu, gun tnu, gun fharmaid Without malice, without jealousy, without envy
Gun ghiobh, gun ghabh, roimh neach air an talamh Without fear, without terror of anyone
(Fo suil am Greine)x2 (under the sun)x2
As the participant lights their fire they walk doesil around the fire to return to their place
Tonorach mi an Teine le cas deosil Honour the fire with a sunwise turn
Three Kyries
Kyrie eleison. A Thigherna Dean trocaire Lord have mercy
Christe eleison. Mo Chriosd Dean trocaire Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison. A Thigherna Dean trocaire Lord have mercy
At the Scapulary:
Descent of Bridget
bi leum fhein be with us
Brighid nighean Dùghaill Duinn Brighde. Brigit daughter of Dugall the Brown
‘Ic Aoidh ‘ic Cuinn ‘ic Son of Aodh son of Art son of Conn b
Criara ‘ic Caibre ‘ic Cais ‘ic Son of Criara son of Cairbre son of Cas
Carmaic ‘ic Cartaich ‘ic Cuinn Son of Cormac son of Cartach son of Conn
Brighde nam brat, Brigit of the mantles,
Brighde na brig, Brigit of the peat-heap,
Brighde nan cleachd, Brigit of the twining hair,
Brighde na frìth. Brigit of the augury.
Brighde nan gealachos, Brigit of the white feet,
Brighde na bìth, Brigit of the calmness,
Brighde nan gealaphos, Brigit of the white palms,
Brighde na nì. Brigit of the kine.
Brighde bean chomainn, Brigit, woman-comrade,
Brighde na brig, Brigit of the peat-heap,
Brighde bean chobhair, Brigit, woman-helper,
Brighde bean mhìn. Brigit, woman mild.
Brighde ciabh Moire, Brigit, own tress of Mary
Brighde Moime Chrìosd, – Brigit, Nurse of Christ,
Gach latha agus gach oidhche Each day and each night
Nì mi Sloinntearachd na Brighd, That I say the Descent of Brigit,
Cha mharbhar mi I shall not be slain,
Cha ghuinear mi, I shall not be wounded
Cha charachar mi, I shall not be put in cell,
Cha ghonar mi, I shall not be gashed,
Cha spaltar mi, I shall not be torn in sunder,
Cha spùillear mi, I shall not be despoiled
Cha saltrar mi, I shall not be down-trodden
Cha rùisgear mi, I shall not be made naked,
Cha reubar mi, I shall not be rent
Cha mhó dh’fhàgas Nor will Christ (the Seanachie)
Crìosd (am Seanachaidh)an dearmad mi. Leave me forgotten
Cha loisg grian mi, Nor sun shall burn me,
Cha loisg teine mi, Nor fire shall burn me,
Cha loisg ial mi, Nor beam shall burn me,
Cha loisg gile mi. Nor moon shall burn me.
Cha bhàth uisge mi, Nor river shall drown me,
Cha bhàth sàla mi, Nor brine shall drown me,
Cha bhàth lighe mi, Nor flood shall drown me,
Cha bhàth burn mi. Nor water shall drown me.
Cha laigh bruaill-brì orm, Nightmare shall not lie on me,
Cha laigh suan-dubh orm, Black sleep shall not lie on me
Cha laigh druaill-drì orm, Spell sleep shall not lie on me,
Cha laigh luaths-luis orm. “ Luaths-luis” shall not lie on me.
Tha mi for chomraig I am under the keeping
Mo Naomh Moire; Of my Saint Mary,
‘S I mo chaombh chomainn My companion, beloved
Brigit.
Each verse is a bead, times 3 repetitions is 1 Nonad:
Eirnnachd / Irish-Gaelic Albanachd / Scots-Gaelic
Gabhaim molta Bríghde Tha mi a’ moladh Brìghde
Ionmhain í le hÉirinn Is ionmhuinn le Èirinn i
Ionmhain le gach tír í Is ionmhuinn le gach dùthaich i
Molaimís go léir í Molamaid uile i
I am praising Bridget
Who is daughter of Ireland
She is a daughter of all countries
We all praise her
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach Lòchran soilleir na Laighean
Soilsiú feadh na tíre A’ deàrrsadh feadh na dùthcha
Ceann ar óghaibh Éireann Ceannard air òighean na h-Èireann
Ceann na mban ar míne Ceannard air na mnathan ciùin
The bright light of Leinster
Bringing light to the country
The leader of the youth of Ireland
Our leader of gentlewomen
Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh Thig an geamhradh dian, dubh,
Gearradh lena ghéire A’ gearradh le a gheur-chrèadh,
Ach ar lá ‘le Bríghde Ach air latha Brìghde
Gar dúinn Earrach Éireann Bidh Earrach na h-Èireann dlùth dhuinn.
Here comes the dark, hard winter
Cutting with its sharpness
But on St. Bridget’s Day
Ireland’s spring is close by
At the festival bead:
I should like a great lake of the finest ale
for the King of kings.
I should like a table of the choicest food
for the family of heaven.
Let the ale be made from the fruits of faith,
And the food be forgiving love.
I should welcome the poor to my feast,
for they are God’s children.
I should welcome the sick to my feast,
for they are God’s joy.
Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place,
and the sick dance with the angels.
God bless the poor, God bless the sick,
and bless our human race.
God bless our food, God bless our drink.
All homes, O God, embrace.
ArdNemeton na Tuatha 
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