Saint Brigid of kildare is one of the patron saints of Ireland along with St. Patrick and St. Columba and one of the major deities of the Celts.  She is also known as the goddess of the Brigantes in northern England, and represented the sister or virgin aspect of the Great Goddess.  The root word or her name means bright or exalted and is associated with the power of life and the feast of Imbolc.