Poems
St. Bride
Why is our Patroness, St. Bride
Still Ireland’s joy and Ireland’s pride?
Why is her feast so dear to all
True Gaels from Cork to Donegal?
With loving hands why do we plait
Her cross to crown her festal date?
Why does her Cross in fanlights show
Guarding our doors from every woe?
Defending with its outstretched arms
Our Irish homes, our Irish farms?
Why is St. Bride still Ireland’s boast
From Irelands core, to Ireland’s coast?
Because with soul aflame with love
She gave her life to God above.
For God and Gael she toiled and planned
To make this land a saintly land.
A nun in thought and word and deed
She robbed herself the poor to feed.
To succour all in want or woe –
And that is why we love her so.