Historically on February 1st, the pagan festival Imbolc honored Brigid, a triple goddess associated with healing, poetry and smithcraft. Brigid, whose name means 'exalted one' was considered one of the most powerful Celtic gods, the daughter of the Dagda, the oldest god in the Celtic pantheon.
Over the centuries, Imbolc became Christianised in Ireland as the feast day of St. Brigid, and marks the begining of Spring in the Irish calendar.
Complex Studio Artist and Rónán Ó Raghallaigh has depicted Brigid in his work. Ó Raghallaigh said "Those typical butter-wouldn't-melt benign Celtic goddess images bore me to tears, so my Brigid is a goddess of Fire and Snakes."
To celebrate Imbolc 2022, Ó Raghallaigh has made 12 individual St Brigid's Cross paintings with Ogham inscriptions that read 'Brigid'. The crosses are old Irish charms crafted from rushes and may be symbolically related to the sun and regrowth. Ogham is an old form of Irish script carved into wood or stone and is read from bottom to top.
Ó Raghallaigh's St Brigid's Cross paintings with Ogham inscriptions are influenced by Irish Neolithic carvings and manuscript art, as well as Sumi-e painting, a form of zen art.
Works are for sale directly from the artist, Instagram ronan.o.rahallaigh.
