The Church of St John the Baptist in Lumiar, Lisbon, holds the relics of St. Brigid, brought by three Irish knights in 1283 during the Aragonese Crusade.
St. Brigid was said to be born near Croghan Hill, with various historical accounts connecting her to Faughart, Co Louth, as well as Umerus in Kildare.
Kildare is recognized for the monastery established by St. Brigid, where her cathedral now stands on the site of her original wooden church.
Pilgrimages to St. Brigid’s Well in Tully, Kildare, reflect her enduring legacy, alongside other sites such as Glastonbury, Faughart, and relics located in Down Cathedral and churches across Europe.
- Church of St John the Baptist Lumiar, Lisbon: The location of Brigid’s relics, carried to King Dinis of Portugal in 1283 by three Irish knights travelling to the Aragonese Crusade. A commemorative inscription on the northern façade of the church, in 16th-century characters, reads: “Here in these three tombs lie the three Irish knights who brought the head of St. Brigid, Virgin, a native of Ireland, whose relic is preserved in this chapel. In memory of which, the officials of the Altar of the same Saint caused this to be done in January AD 1283.”
- Croghan Hill: The birthplace of St Brigid, according to the earlier biographies, she came from the Fothairt people who settled in the area. A 14th century translation transposed this to Faughart, Co Louth, while Umerus in Kildare is also cited as a birthplace.
- Kildare: the town in Ireland where St. Brigid established a monastery that became a centre for spiritual and educational activities. St. Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare is believed to have been built on the site of her original wooden church.
- Brigid’s Well, Tully, Kildare: Located near St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Brigid’s Well is a sacred site and a place of devotion for visitors seeking healing and blessings. It is believed to have been blessed by St. Brigid herself.
- Solas Bhríde: Place of pilgrimage and refuge near the well in Tully established by the Brigidine sisters.
- Glastonbury, England: Legend has it that St. Brigid visited Glastonbury and blessed a well there. Glastonbury has long been associated with spirituality and is considered a significant location in St. Brigid’s story.
- Faughart, Co Louth: Faughart is the birthplace of St. Brigid’s mother, Broicsech, and it is believed that St. Brigid spent time there during her life. The area is associated with her miracles and acts of kindness. The tradition that it is the birthplace of Brigid came 900 years after her death, Brigid may have overtaken the traditions of the local saint Darerca aka saint Moninne. By the late 1800s there were Brigid pilgrimages to the sites previously associated with Darerca.
- Killeavy Old Church, Armagh, Killeavy Old Church is said to be founded by St. Brigid. The ruins of the church still exist.
- Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland: The relics of St. Brigid, along with St. Patrick and St. Columba, were reburied here in 1186 but desecrated in 1538, except for Brigid’s head.
- Church of St. Roch, Lisbon, Portugal: The frontal part of St. Brigid’s skull is venerated in this church. It was presented to the church in 1587.
- St. Martin of Tours Church, Cologne, Germany: A relic of St. Brigid’s tooth was obtained from this church and given to the Brigidine Sisters in Melbourne, Australia in 1884.
- St. Brigid’s Church, Kilcurry: In 1905, a purported fragment of St. Brigid’s skull was taken to this church by Sister Mary Agnes of the Dundalk Convent of Mercy.
- St. Brigid’s Church, Killester, Dublin: In 1928, another fragment of St. Brigid’s skull was obtained from the Bishop of Lisbon and brought to this church.
- Armagh: In the twelfth century, Armagh had two crosses dedicated to St. Brigid. The city also had a street named Brigid and a place called “Brigid’s Ward.”
- The Old Saint Peter’s Church, Strasbourg, France: This church contains unspecified relics of St. Brigid, brought by the canons of St. Michael in 1398.
- Kilbride: There are 45 Kilbride placenames located in 19 counties of Ireland.
- Wales: There are numerous villages, churches, and parishes associated with St. Brigid in Wales, such as St. Brides in Pembrokeshire and St. Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan.
- East Kilbride and West Kilbride, Scotland: These places are named after St. Brigid.
- St. Bride’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: This place is named after St. Brigid due to historical ties with southeastern Ireland.
- St. Brigid Island, Antarctica, Latitude: 66° 25′ 06.0″ S Longitude: 67° 07′ 35.0″ W: This ice-covered island is named after St. Brigid of Kildare.
- St. Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London, England: This church, dedicated to St. Brigid, is an iconic gathering point for the weddings and funerals of London based journalists.
