{"id":796,"date":"2021-02-01T11:07:22","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T16:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/?p=796"},"modified":"2021-02-01T11:07:24","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T16:07:24","slug":"la-fheile-bride-and-our-radharc-film-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/2021\/02\/01\/la-fheile-bride-and-our-radharc-film-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"L\u00e1 Fh\u00e9ile Br\u00edde and our Radharc Film collection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mindful that this week’s Rare Books and Special Collections blogpost would go out on St. Brigid’s Day, we published a picture from an early twentieth-century children’s book, An Alphabet of Irish Saints<\/em>. <\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This morning’s flurry of social media activity, including pictures and accounts of blankets and clothes put out overnight, and photographs of crosses like the cross above, reminds me of an inquiry we received a few years ago about our Radharc video collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does anybody remember the Radharc films on RT\u00c9 television? The Radharc Trust website<\/a> provides a history, and some digital film and images may be found on websites of RT\u00c9<\/a> and of the IFI.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among our DVDs of Radharc films is a very short documentary describing St. Brigid’s eve in a Co. Donegal household. Our correspondent who emailed from England turned out to be a member of the family featured in the film, and she was interested in obtaining a transcript. She added that her family had moved to Scotland, where the Edinburgh neighbors thought their annual observances of St. Brigid’s Day were quite unusual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as it happened, my colleague Gr\u00e1inne N\u00ed Mhuir\u00ed, who was a visiting Fulbright Irish language teacher, had used the film in her Irish class, and between us, we had transcribed the text and provided a rough translation, so we had the transcript on file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film begins with the Duffy men and boys outside, making preparations, while the women work indoors, and takes us through all the events of the eve of St. Brigid’s Day in the Duffy home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

I nGaeltacht Th\u00edr Chonaill t\u00e1 m\u00f3r\u00e1n sean-n\u00f3sanna in on\u00f3ir Naoimh Br\u00edd beo go f\u00f3ill i measc na ndaoine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seo Anagaire, \u00e1it \u00e1lainn os cionn na gCaslach, an \u00e1it a bhfuil teaghlach mhuintir Dhubhthaigh ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u00edche Fh\u00e9ile Br\u00edde t\u00e9id an seanduine agus Conal agus Liam amach f\u00e1 choinne coch\u00e1n a dheineas na crosa.  Caithfear an coch\u00e1n a thabhairt isteach roimh lu\u00ed gr\u00e9ine.   Scoitear agus glantar \u00e9 mar mh\u00edn\u00f3is an seanduine do na st\u00f3caigh.  In \u00e1iteanna I dT\u00edr Chonaill feaga is m\u00f3 a bh\u00edonn acu leis na crosa a dh\u00e9anamh ach measann siad in Anagaire gur fearr na crosa coch\u00e1in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istigh sa teach t\u00e1 Br\u00edd agus Bean U\u00ed Dhubhthaigh ag cur s\u00edos tine leis na bruit\u00edn\u00ed a bhruith.  Br\u00fait\u00edn\u00ed, sin pr\u00e1ta\u00ed br\u00faite agus bainne is im agus oinni\u00fain is salann iontu.  Beirtear na pr\u00e1ta\u00ed isteach \u00f3n pholl, caithfear a nglanadh go maith anocht, agus an pota a ghlanadh chomh maith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N\u00ed bh\u00edonn bruit\u00edn\u00ed ag an teaghlach seo gach uile o\u00edche \u2013 dh\u00e1 o\u00edche chionn f\u00e9ile sa bhliain a bh\u00edos bruit\u00edn\u00ed acu, mar at\u00e1, O\u00edche Shamhna agus O\u00edche Fh\u00e9ile Bhr\u00edde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bheir na fir l\u00e1mh cuidithe leis an bh\u00e9ile; baineann siad na s\u00fal\u00f3ga\u00ed as na pr\u00e1ta\u00ed, \u2018piocadh bruit]in\u2019 an t-ainm a bheirtear ar an obair seo; nitear athuair as uisce glan iad agus t\u00e1 siad r\u00e9idh le cur ar an tine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agus o\u00edche mar seo, fad is a bh\u00edos na pr\u00e1ta\u00ed d\u00e1 mbruth bheadh duine ag s\u00fail le sc\u00e9al agus gheibhimid \u00e9.  Ins\u00edonn an seanfhear ceann de na sc\u00e9alta f\u00e1 Naomh Br\u00edd, sc\u00e9alta a th\u00e1ining aniar \u00f3n aimsir chianaosta \u00f3 ghl\u00fain go gl\u00fain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N\u00edl s\u00e9 chomh furasta pota pr\u00e1ta\u00ed a shileadh agus a sh\u00edlfeadh duileadh aineolach, ach t\u00e1 l\u00e1mh maith ag mn\u00e1 Th\u00edr Chonaill air.  Cuirtear cr\u00e1g shalainn agus oinni\u00fain gearrtha ar na pr\u00e1ta]I agus anois caithfear a br\u00fa.  Tuirn\u00edn an t-ainm at\u00e1 ar an maide a bhr\u00fanns iad.  N\u00ed an tuirn\u00eds seo br\u00fait\u00edn de na pr\u00e1ta\u00ed is righne d\u00e1 \u2026.  bhealach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuairim ar chearthr\u00fa I ndiaidh a haond\u00e9ag, t\u00e9ann an teaghlach ar a ngl\u00fainibh le paidr\u00edn c\u00faig ndeichni\u00far d\u00e9ag a r\u00e1.  Le cois cionn a chur ar an Phaidr\u00edn, t\u00e1 paidir ar leith acu an o\u00edche seo, \u201cPaidir agus Ave M\u00e1ire le muid f\u00e9in agus an m\u00e9id is \u2026. orainn a sh\u00e1bh\u00e1il ar muir agus ar t\u00edr, ar tonn agus ar tr\u00e1igh, gach bealach agus bearnas d\u00e1 rachaimid. Agus go speisialta ar chaill agus ar urc..  na farraige m\u00f3ire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paidir \u00ed seo at\u00e1 ar f\u00f3irstin do dhaoine a chaithfeas a ngabh\u00e1il I ngleic leis an fharraige mh\u00f3ir ag saothr\u00fa a mbeatha nach bhfuil le f\u00e1il ar an talamh acu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I dtr\u00e1thaibh an mhe\u00e1n o\u00edche, nuair at\u00e1 an Paidr\u00edn r\u00e1ite, tosa\u00edonn Turas Bhr\u00edde, pr\u00edomh\u00f3c\u00e1id na f\u00e9ile.\u00a0 Bheir gach duine den teaghlach ball \u00e9adaigh do Bhr\u00edd, idir gheansa\u00ed n\u00f3 stoca\u00ed, bheir Br\u00edd l\u00e9\u00ed na neada\u00ed agus an p\u2026 choch\u00e1in agus t\u00e9id s\u00ed amach ar an doras c\u00fail.\u00a0 T\u00e9id s\u00ed thart far an teach th\u00ed huaire de thaobh na l\u00e1imhe deise.\u00a0 T\u00e9id s\u00ed ar a gl\u00faine ag an doras tosaigh agus scairteann s\u00ed leis an teaghlach: \u201cGabhaig\u00ed ar bhur ngl\u00faine agus fosclaig\u00ed bhur s\u00faile agus ligig\u00ed isteach Br\u00edd Bheannaithe.\u201d\u00a0 Bheir siadsan freagra uirthi, \u201c\u2019S\u00e9 beatha,\u00a0\u2018s\u00e9 beatha, \u2018s\u00e9 beatha na mn\u00e1 uaisle.\u201d\u00a0 Coisrictear na h\u00e9ada\u00ed le huisce coisricthe agus deirtear an urna\u00ed, \u201cCaithfidh m\u00e9 seo in on\u00f3ir Bhr\u00edde, le mo sh\u00e1bh\u00e1in ar gach olc agus gach urch\u00f3id go bliain \u00f3 anocht.\u201d\u00a0 Rud measartha deacair geansa\u00ed ag st\u00f3cach le cur air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sa deireadh su\u00edonn an teaghlach thart ag d\u00e9anamh crosa Bhr\u00edde.\u00a0 F\u00e9achann gach duine le cros a dh\u00e9anamh, ach ar nd\u00f3igh t\u00e1 daoine n\u00edos fearr n\u00e1 daoine eile \u00e1 nd\u00e9anamh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N\u00ed hionann a nitear crosa Bhr\u00edde i ngach \u2026 den t\u00edr.  Anseo in Anagaire, ceangla\u00edonn siad dh\u00e1 shlat d\u00e1 ch\u00e9ile I bhfoirm croise agus fill siad na sip\u00edn\u00ed thart \u00e1 cheangail.  Is f\u00e9idir gach rud go dt\u00ed fiche cros a dh\u00e9anamh ar an chros mh\u00f3r amh\u00e1in.  Ansin cuirtear na crosa in airde sna creata\u00ed istigh sa teach agus sna bothaigh ag iarraidh coimirce Bhr\u00edde ar dhaoine agus ar ainmhithe sa bhliain at\u00e1 romhainn.  F\u00e1gtar na crosa sna h\u00e1iteacha seo go bliain \u00f3 anocht.  Coinn\u00edtear fu\u00edollach an choch\u00e1in agus cuirtear I dtaisce \u00e9.  Cuirtear deireadh leis an Fh\u00e9ile le paidir, \u201cCuidi\u00fa Br\u00edde go raibh f\u00e1r mbun, agus f\u00e1r mbarr in \u00e9adan gach olc agus gan urch\u00f3id go ceann bliana \u00f3n l\u00e1 inniu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

In the Donegal Gaeltacht many traditions in honor of Saint Bridgid are still alive among the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Anagary, a beautiful place above Caslach, where the Duffy family live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Eve of Brigid’s Day, the old people and conal and Liam go out to find straw to make the crosses. the straw must be brought in before sunset. The straw is separated and cleaned as the old people explain to the lads. In some places in Donegal, reeds are what they have for making the crosses, but the people in Anagary think the straw crosses are better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the house, Br\u00edd and Mrs. Duffy are setting the fire to boil the br\u00fait\u00edn. Br\u00fait\u00edn\u00ed, that is, potatoes mashed with milk and butter and onion and salt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potatoes are brought in from the hole; they must be well-washed tonight, and the pot must also be washed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This family does not have br\u00fait\u00edn every night. Two nights of the eve of a festival annually is when they have br\u00fait\u00edn, that is, Halloween and St. Brigid’s Night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The men give a helping had with the meal; they remove the eyes from the potatoes. “Piocadh br\u00fait\u00edn” is what this work is called. They are washed once more in clean water, and then they are ready to be placed on the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And a night like this, as the potatoes are being boiled, one would expect a story, and we have it. The old man tells one of the stories about Saint Bridgit, stories that came from the old days, passed from generation to generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not as easy to prepare a pot of potatoes as one might think , but the women of Donegal are practised at it. Salt and chopped onion are added to the potatoes and now it must be mashed. The utensil with which they are mashed is called a Tuirn\u00edn. ….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At about a quarter past eleven, the family go on their knees to say five decades of the Rosary. At the head of the Rosary, they have a special prayer for this night, \u201cA Prayer and Ave Maria to keep ourselves and … safe on land and sea, on wave and beach, every way and place where we go. And especially …. on the great sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a prayer that helps people who must to to sea to make their living as there is not sufficient for them on land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About midnight, when the Rosary has been said, the Turas Bhr\u00edde (Bridgid\u2019s Tour) begins, the main event of the festival. Every member of the family holds a piece of Bridgid\u2019s clothing, either geansa\u00ed (sweater) or socks, and Bridgid lods the … and the straw bundle, and she goes out the back door. She goes three times around the house on her right (clockwise). She goes on her knees at the front door and she calls to the family: \u201cGo on your knees and open your eyes and let Holy Bridgid in.\u201d They reply, \u201c\u2019S\u00e9 beatha (Hail), \u2018s\u00e9 beatha, \u2018s\u00e9 beatha gentlewoman.\u201d The clothes are blessed with holy water and the prayer is recited, \u201cI will wear this in honor of Bridgid, to protect me from every harm and every iniquity for a year from tonight.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is quite difficult to put a geansa\u00ed on a young boy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At last the family sit around making the St. Bridgid\u2019s Crosses. Each person likes to make a cross, but of course some people are better than others at making them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Bridgid\u2019s Crosses are not the same all over the country. Here in Anagary, they tie two sticks together in the form of a cross, and they fold the together in the form of a cross and fold the twigs around to tie them. Up to twenty crosses can be made on one big cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the crosses are put up in the rafters in the house and in the sheds to ask for Bridgid\u2019s protection for the people and animals in the year ahead. The crosses are left in this place for a year from tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining straw is kept and put away. The festival ends with the prayer, \u201cMay the help of Bridgid be below and above, against every ill and every iniquity for a year from today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The film is found in our catalog as Bridgid’s Night<\/a>, with the information that it was filmed in Co. Donegal in 1961. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about our video collections, see our library guide to Ireland on Film. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mindful that this week’s Rare Books and Special Collections blogpost would go out on St. Brigid’s Day, we published a picture from an early twentieth-century children’s book, An Alphabet of Irish Saints. This morning’s flurry of social media activity, including pictures and accounts of blankets and clothes put out overnight, and photographs of crosses like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10580,52653],"tags":[470780,215681,470781,470779],"class_list":["post-796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-media","category-old-books","tag-irish-customs","tag-irish-studies-blogs","tag-radharc-documentaries","tag-st-brigids-day"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=796"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":809,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796\/revisions\/809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/irish-hesburgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}