St. Brigid’s First Miracle

Liam Hannigan

My granny was named after St. Brigid until the boys threw pebbles at her

Ankles in the playground and left a marked impression that meant her mother

Lit an unfailing flame which burnt granny’s secondary school

Acceptance letter with scholarship at this granny took her coat off

Then laid it down flat on the playground where it began

To grow and billow and weave in the long reed fabric

Flattened out the boys then coated a whole field so granny never touched

Soil again with those thrown pebbles she built a house over the boys’

Bones pushed down for foundations supporting eight children who all

Crushed into the home at Iona Road with roller-skates and cats would call

The landline constantly ringing and granny felt light gliding along the lino floor

Liam Hannigan is a senior History of Art major from Ireland. He writes poetry in English and Irish. He participated in Poetry Ireland's Introductions series and was invited to read his work at the Dublin Book Festival in 2023.

ABOUT THE ART | My Barefoot Brother by Abby Nissley, 2026. Abby Nissley is a student at Yale University.