After an outbreak of the coronavirus dashed her plans to pursue a new-found interest in St Brigid, the editor of the Tablet’s Living Spirit answers the question ‘How do I go on a pilgrimage without going on a pilgrimage?’ by immersing herself in the footsteps of the early Irish saint

During lockdown, I made a habit of rising an hour before the household because otherwise – with three small children to care for in a two-bedroom flat in London – there was no way of getting time or space for myself. It was an hour for prayer and spiritual reading. One book mentioned “a prayer for the hearth-keepers”, which evoked St Brigid of Kildare. The prayer struck a chord – I felt very much the hearth-keeper, rising early to tend a spiritual fire before children appeared – and it sparked an interest in St Brigid.

Knowing that we were to be in Ireland over the summer, I enquired about taking a hermitage at Solas Bhride, a Christian spirituality centre run by Brigidine sisters within walking distance of St Brigid’s holy well. One was available, for 48 hours, in late August, after I would have completed my two weeks in quarantine. Solas Bhride is usually a busy hub for spiritual seekers, but Covid-19 had meant the cancellation of its retreats, ­pilgrimages and conference facilities.

At the time of my planned visit, Kildare had seen a spike in cases and remained under local lockdown, but it was widely expected the restrictions would be lifted before I planned to make the journey. Then news came of an outbreak at a meat factory in the town. My plans for a pilgrimage had to be shelved.