There are only a few saints' lives remaining to us now, but these lives do reveal the miracles commonly performed by temale saints in early Ireland. Saint Brigid's miracles included moving a river, reviving the dead and making water into beer. St. Darerca (also known as St. Moninna) was credited with reviving the dead and making water into wine.
Miracles were also connected to the deaths of young virgins and martyrs. In several cases, young women died upon taking holy communion, or upon being baptized. One of the nuns in St. Darerca's community died upon being told of the saint's death.
There are clear similarities between some of the miracles credited to both men and women. St. Columba, like both St. Brigid and St. Darerca, is credited with turning water into wine. Miracles involving the weather or environment appear to be common to both male and female saints.
Birth has often been called women's work; however, if the hagiographies of early Ireland are any evidence, death was women's work as well. Women are credited not only with dying out of rapture or faith, but also with the ability to revive the dead.
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