Saint Brigid was an Irish Catholic nun, abbess, who founded
several convents who is venerated as a saint. Her feast day falls on
February 1, the first day of spring in Ireland. She was born in 453 AD
in Faughart near Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland to Dubhtach, a pagan
chieftain and Brocca, a Christian Pict who had been baptised by St.
Patrick. Brigid was inspired from an early age by the teachings of St.
Patrick. She received the veil from St. Mel and professed vows
dedicating herse3lf to Christ.
She later founded her first convent
at Clara, Co. Offaly but her major institution would be created in Co.
Kildare. Around 470 she founded Kildare Abbey, it became one of the most
prestigious monasteries throughout Christian Europe. She died at
Kildare in 525 and was interred in a tomb before the altar of her abbey
church. However, her remains were later exhumed and moved to Downpatrick
to rest with the other two patron saints of Ireland, Patrick and
Columcille. Her shrine became an object of veneration for pilgrims
especially on what was to become her feast day, February 1.
She is
famed for her cross which legend accounts that she designed when trying
to convert a dying man to Christianity. It remains tradition in many
homes in Ireland to this day to have a Saint Brigid's Cross to homour
the saint. According to custom a new cross is made every year on
February 1 and the old one is burned to protect the house from fire.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the
leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted
coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland.
