Rowling Makes a Stand

[JadeLeader]

Ok, so I know the educated classes hate us and our Dear Leader, but she's really not doing herself any favours here...

You called?

Do you have your certificate from the Institute of Finger Pointing (IoFP) to hand? It seems we have need for it

I just knew someone would name change😂

"Babbling biddy", said no woman ever.

Bridget was both - she was already a goddess and then there was a later historical figure who was a saint.
So being a Bridget/Biddy, as DeanElderberry said, is something to be proud of.

But, EmilyinEverton, you used it negatively. 'Biddy' was a term of disparagement for an Irish servant, so you're being doubly insulting, to Irishwomen and working class women, by using Biddy as a negative.
You were probably unaware of its meaning, but you know now, so let's move on, and just don't use Biddy as an insult again, OK?

Perhaps get some sleep too? Unless you're working in shifts.

Couldn't resist!

😂Mate. Nothing you say is going to have any impact post 'babbling biddies'.

I found this

'Brigit was known as a triple goddess, connected with healing, smith-craft and poetry, and was known as the ‘Exalted One’. She was also one of three daughters of the Dagda, a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann – a powerful and magical people, who are later referred to as the Sídhe (faeries) when they retreat underground. Despite being a well-known figure today, especially through festivals held in Dublin and Louth, there is very little noted of Brigit within our mythology. Brigit is really only mentioned, briefly, during the story of the Second Battle of Moytura when she mourns the death of her son, Ruadán.

“And then Brigit came and keened her son with shrieking and with crying”
"Gods and Fighting Men" - Lady Augusta Gregory

This moment is significant as the first keening in Ireland. It could be argued that the Goddess was a predecessor to the Banshee, who is known to keen or wail when death is near.'

Which is fascinating. I'll look into it further. Thanks to the PP for prompting a very interesting diversion.

It's not like it was having much before that, to be fair...

That's quite a history there.

😄

Eventually, Toto always pulls away the curtain

I'm of Irish Ancestry. My family were Irish Servants. I am mortality offended. I demand MPs wail in parliament about how hard done by I've been and how I should get special free priority entry to everything. I should be exempt from the law for previous injustices which I can't pin on anyone in particular but they looked at me a bit funny so that's good enough.

I have to admit I fast forwarded the thread, expecting a load of tedious teeth-grinding about JKR. I was cheered right up to find Emily's wee post at the end, but I'm grateful for the insight into what I may have missed in the middle. 😊

Did you know that Bridget had a MAGIC CLOAK??!

'Brigit, the Saint, much like the Goddess, is often associated with three things: fertility, abundance and protection. She was born in the middle of the 5th century; she lived, as a child, with a druid, and drank the milk of Otherworld cows – even within the Christianised version of Brigit there are elements of mythology weaved through her story. Fire became a symbol associated with Brigit after a bishop came across her praying in a small church she had founded, with a fire appearing and growing around her and the building. Legend has it that twenty nuns (Brigit being one) would guard the fire that had continued to burn for 500 years, even after Brigit’s death. The Goddess’ connection to fire may seem more tenuous than that of the Saint, however the Goddess Brigit is said to represent fire’s transformative properties through her power of healing.
There are a number of symbols that evoke the memory of Saint Brigit, beyond that of fire, including the cross of rushes, and a cloak. It is said that Brigit fashioned a cross from rushes that were on the floor so that she could convert a man to Christianity on his deathbed.
As for the cloak, Brigit used this as a means of getting what she was promised by a King of Leinster. Brigit had founded a religious house in Kildare, and as her community grew she requested land from the king in order to build a monastery. He agreed, only to renege soon after. Frustrated at his constant stalling, Brigit finally asked him to at least let her have as much land as her cloak would cover. Laughing at the meagre size of her cloak, the king conceded. Four nuns then picked up the corners and proceeded to run the four directions of the compass, continuing to cover the land until the king begged Brigit to stop, and gave her what was promised.'

https://heritageireland.ie/2026/01/brigit-the-goddess-and-the-saint/

So we’re all goddesses? No wonder some men want to be us.

Emily's just jealous of our MAGIC CLOAKS. 😎

I don’t blame him, to be honest.

This is probably the best source re Bridget the Goddess/Bridget the Saint - both are fair game for mythologising ,which is not entirely a bad thing
It is the serious scholarly Dictionary of Irish Biography so as near to 'authoritative' as you'll get:

Brigit (Brighid, Bríd, Bride, Bridget) | Dictionary of Irish Biography

Fantastic, thanks Marie. Brig/Brighid/Bride is all over the west of Scotland, too. 😊

But again the reality is she is attempting to claim territory she has no authority to like the Nazis.

Criticising WPATH is on a par with Lebensraum now, is it? I hope you warmed up before doing that stretch, Emily, else you'll do yourself a mischief.

Them getting bigger and bigger can be a right pain though. I keep getting mine stuck in Tube doors.

I'm actually Irish, and I actually had a great-aunt who was not only a domestic servant, she was actually called Bridget! A real-life 'Biddy'.
Emigrated young, worked all her life cleaning other people's houses, never saw Ireland again - she might have been able to save up the fare home, only she sent money back to support our family.

I don't know about all the other things you mention, I'd be content with people like Emily - who is so exquisitely sensitive about other peoples' wrongs - not using the name as an insult, once they've learnt the derivation.

Lots of Bridgets in my Irish family. Both grandmothers, an aunt and various cousins.

Loving the tales of both the Goddess and the Saint Bridget. Always loved the name and have a Bridget, a Bridie and and a Breige in my extended family.

'Babbling Biddies' has quite a mythical, mystical appeal to me. Instead of conjuring up an image of a group of older, cardigan wearing knitters as Emily was hoping, I see more of a group of powerful goddesses speaking in wisdom, speaking in truth. Effective in breaking the spell that was cast over the kingdoms by evil forces of the TRAs.

.