Our Irish Heritage

Today February 1st is St Brigid’s day.

St. Brigid was born in AD 450 in Faughart, near Dundalk in Co. Louth.

St Brigid is associated with the early church (now a ruin) in the graveyard in Cloontogher, Kilteevan.

Making a St. Brigid’s cross is one of the traditional rituals in Ireland to celebrate the beginning of early spring, 1st February.  Across Ireland some people still adhere to the old tradition of placing a St Brigid’s cross in a place of honour in their home, to protect against fire and evil spirits.

The cross is most frequently made from rushes The rushes are pulled rather than cut. A distinctive square of woven rushes is the centerpiece, from which four radials extend, each tied at the end.

According to tradition, a new cross was made each St Brigid's Day to protect the house. Many homes preserved several crosses in the ceiling believing it was a good way to protect the home. Fire was always a major threat in houses with thatch and wooden roofs in former times.

St. Brigid and her cross are linked together by the story that she wove this form of cross at the death bed of either her father or a pagan lord, who upon hearing what the cross meant, asked to be baptised.

One version of the story relates that a pagan chieftain from the neighborhood of Kildare was dying. Christians in his household sent for Brigid to talk to him about Christ. When she arrived the chieftain was raving. As it was impossible to instruct this delirious man, hopes for his conversion seemed doubtful. Brigid sat down at his bedside and began consoling him. As she sat by his bedside, trying to calm and console him, she picked up some of the rushes which were strewn across the floor of the room. As her fingers played with the dry strands, she started weaving them together, eventually forming a cross.

As she worked she explained the meaning of the cross to the sick man. Her calming words brought peace to his soul. The chieftain’s fever broke, and he grew quiet. Captivated by her lesson of love and enlightenment, the old chieftain was baptised as a Christian, just before his death.

The word of his conversion spread very fast. Ever since, Irish people have made rush crosses to commemorate the occasion.

St.  Brigid died in AD 525 at the age of 75.