Note.--This "legendary romance" is based upon the ancient and still
current (though often hopelessly contradictory) legends concerning
Brighid, or Bride, commonly known as "Muime Chriosd," that is, the
Foster-Mother of Christ. From the universal honour and reverence in
which she was and is held--second only in this respect to the Virgin
herself--she is also called "Mary of the Gael." Another name, frequent
in the West, is "Brighde-nam-Brat," that is, St. Bride of the Mantle,
a name explained in the course of my legendary story. Brighid the
Christian saint should not, however, as is commonly done, be confused
with a much earlier and remoter Brighid, the ancient Celtic muse of
Song.