St Brigid’s Legacy Lives on in Queensland

Brigidine Sisters have received news from Mr David Sewell, the Principal of St Brigid’s School, Nerang, Queensland who recently wrote to the Parents, Caregivers, Staff, Friends & Students of St Brigid’s:

“I am proud to announce history in the making whereby after a lengthy consultation with the school community, teachers of Gaelic language in Ireland and local indigenous elders we have settled on the following names for our School Houses and Buildings which reflect our St Brigid’s Way. This will prove to be a lasting legacy for St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Nerang:

• School House Names based on the St Brigid’s Crest/logo and links to St Brigid:
  •  Red House: AN LASAIR HOUSE (pronunciation: An Lasser) – The Flames
    • (AN LASAIR HOUSE: Gaelic ‘flame’)
    • St. Brigid’s Fire Temple

• • Blue House: ABHAINN HOUSE (pronunciation: Owen) – The River
    • (Abhain: Gaelic ‘River’)
    • Brigid was a woman of the land, her Well has a stream running through it in Kildare & the Nerang River connection

• • Green House: GIOLCACHA HOUSE (pronunciation: Gill Kaha) – The Reeds
    • (Biorrach: Gaelic ‘Reeds)
    • Brigid used green reeds/rushes to weave her iconic cross

• • Gold House: SNAIDHM HOUSE (pronunciation: Sny-im) – The Knots
    • (Snaidhm: Gaelic ‘Knot)
    • The Gaelic Knot is a symbol of life and eternity being interconnected. Christian & Pagan formation of Celtic Spirituality. Symbol of loyalty, faith, friendship & love

• Building Names (making the connection between our indigenous heritage and the St Brigid’s Way. The buildings are physically and spiritually connected to the sacred land and to foster this connection with the traditional custodians through the use of Yugambeh Language was a very clear request from the feedback):
  • BUJERUM (pronunciation: Booojeerum)
    • (Meaning: Spirit): previously known as Block A.
    • FAITH Value

• • GUNGANGAN (pronunciation: Gunnunngun)
    • (Meaning: Peaceful Dove): previously known as Block B.
    • PEACE Value

• • KARULBO (pronunciation: Karooolbo)
    • (Meaning: Altogether): previously known as Block C.
    • COMPASSION Value

• • GUMERA (pronunciation: as it looks)
    • (Meaning: Love): previously known as The Prep Block.
    • LOVE Value

• • NYEUMBA (pronunciation: as it looks)
    • (Meaning: Teach): previously known as The Admin Building.
    • RESPECT Value

• • NGIRIGOMINEALA(pronunciation: Nyree-Gom-In-Ela)
    • (Meaning: To Meet): previously known as The MPA.

• • GAWARIMA (pronunciation: as it looks)
    • (Meaning: Story/Tale): previously known as The Library.

• • The Kildare Centre (previously known as Eco Enquiry): Brigid came from Kildare, Ireland and her ministry was born, the Brigidine Sisters are based here at Solas Bhride and their world wide mission stems from here.

• • The Curragh (previously known as The Oval): Between Kildare and the nearby town of Newbridge lies an extensive track of unenclosed grassland with its soft springy grass. The flat pasture of nearly 5000 acres is known as Brigid’s Pastures.”