Agus chuirfhimid Brat Brid thar na mBeithigh

And we will raise the banner of Brid…

Hosts Siobhán de Paor (Wild Irish) with WoW’s Shannon Michaela

About 1.6 million calves will be born to dairy cows in Ireland over the next two months. Most of those calves will be separated from their mother at birth, even before she has licked the amniotic fluid from their matted pelts. Some will be moved to the crates later, after a day. The calves will be born in this the season of Bríd, the midwife and companion of cows. As the daughter of Morrigan, she was suckled on a white cow with red ears. As Kildare saint, she multiplied milk in miracles. So it is natural that She be the one we pray to for the resolution of this inhumane practice.

All of our milk, butter, cheese and cream is derived from this brutal practice of postpartum separation of mother and calf. 45 to 90 days after giving birth, the heifers will be impregnated again by artificial insemination. As this simple fact enters the awareness of more people, the demand for ethical dairy practices will force a change in this norm. Our intention is to expedite that change for the good of all involved.

We will gather for the three mornings leading up to and including Imbolc. On Jan 30th and 31st we will meditate and prepare (including putting out the physical brat Bríd to be blessed in drúcht na maidine (morning dew)) and on the morning of February 1st we will complete our journey together. If this mission calls you and you cannot join the meeting, hold this intention in whatever good work you're doing thart ar féile Bríd.

Learn More: A Dairy Story https://adairystory.com/