A chara, – Frank McNally writes of St Brigid (An Irishman’s Diary, February 1st) that “the Catholic Church delisted her in 1969″. Delisted, yes, but only from the Universal Calendar of Saints. She is still very much listed in the Irish church calendar, with renewed texts and prayers for her feast day approved by Rome in the English language texts in 2007 and in Irish language texts in 2017.
Charlotte Ashmore (Letters, February 1st) writes that St Brigid’s existence is “questionable at best”, but that “Brigid’s significance as a Celtic deity is undeniable”. What level of existence, I wonder, does she attribute to the Celtic deity? – Is mise,
PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,
Sandyford,
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Dublin 16.
Sir, – Further to Ronan McGreevy’s article (News, January 31st) on the demise of the name Brigid, I note with puzzlement the position adopted by the Central Statistics Office in relation to its low incidence. Apparently, because the number of girls being given that name in the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2021 was less than three, the exact numbers could not be provided “for confidentiality reasons”. Of course, I understand that public bodies in particular may feel the need to be seen to zealously apply general data protection regulations (GDPR). On the other hand, will family, friends, teachers and other acquaintances of the said one or two one-year-old to eight-year-old girls not already have twigged the fact? I am sure that the parents and guardians of this group will be eternally grateful that the identity of their offspring has been so carefully preserved from public gaze. – Yours, etc,
LORCAN BROPHY,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Yet another new public holiday (February 6th) on the horizon. This really is a Brigid too far! – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – I applaud the Government’s decision to award a public holiday to celebrate St Brigid’s Day, one of our three patron saints. In the interests of fairness and being non-discriminatory, surely the Government should give consideration to awarding a holiday in honour of St Colmcille, the only patron saint of Ireland without a public holiday. – Yours, etc,
EAMONN O’HARA,
Manorcunningham,
Co Donegal.
A chara, – The St Patrick’s Day Festival has revealed its theme for 2023. It is commendable that the festival has decided to celebrate that “We are one”, but it is regrettable that its publicity material makes no express or implied reference to the fact that Ireland’s patronal festival is a celebration of the Christian faith being brought to Ireland by St Patrick. – Is mise,
ADAM HOBSON,
Suffolk,
England.