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