Brigit’s Garden – Exploring the Celtic Seasons

Written by Ben Kesp. 

Kneeling Figure - Brigit's Garden

Located on the western edge of Ireland, in County Galway, is a uniquely beautiful garden dedicated to the four Celtic seasons of the year. What is spectacular about this garden, which covers an area of eleven acres, is its natural look and feel. Native woodland and meadows are the setting for this wonderful place, bringing the visitor in touch with nature. 

The award winning garden takes you on a journey to the heart of Irish Celtic heritage and mythology. Each of the four seasons; Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasa and Samhain are represented in artistically beautiful form, taking the visitor through the cycle of life from birth to death. Located at the centre of the Celtic gardens is the Round House with views onto each of the four seasons. 

Round House - Brigit's Garden

In addition to the seasonal cycles, Brigit’s garden contains a nature trail with many interesting features; a Crannóg, Stone Chamber, Fairy Fort, Forest Walk, Dream Shelter, Dawn Seat and more. The garden would not be complete without containing the largest Calendar Sundial in Ireland, which tells the month of the year, the time of day and has a clock for each month for the solstices and equinoxes. 

Everything about the garden shouts out nature, our understanding of it and the cycle of the seasons. The tranquil setting adds to the splendour of the scene. Its real, not manicured with authentic smells of nature with flowering meadows. Everyplace you walk, there is something to be seen and experienced, captivating the eye. 

Dream Shelter - Brigit's Garden

Standing Stones - Brigit's Garden

The gardens first opened in July 2004 and the construction of the project was a big challenge from the designs produced by Mary Reynolds, Gold Medal winner at Chelsea Flower Show. Many unique features needed to be sourced and built like 35 standing stones, 100m long earth woman, stone chamber and round house. The result is a magnificent garden which fuses history and mythology into our present day. 

The garden is named after Brigit, the Irish Goddess associated with Imbolc (spring), fertility, healing, poetry and crafts. It is suggested that she is a triple deity and versions of Irish myth has her as the daughter of the Great Dagda (Father of the Gods). Following the arrival of Christianity to Ireland, it can be said that Brigit was Christianised as Saint Bridgit with both sharing the same attributes and her feast day is on the first day of Spring (Imbolc). Brigit is an interesting figure in Irish mythology and Ireland’s Christian history – one that I will explore in more detail in a future post. 

Garden of Samhain - Brigit's Garden

For more information check out: Brigit’s Garden Website