Story of St. Brigid

Brigid was born at Faughart near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland in AD 450. According to legend, her father was Dubhthach, an Irish chieftain of Leinster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave at his court.

From earliest childhood the stories of her kindness and miracles associated with her are told. While still a child she was put in charge of the dairy by her mother. One day she had given away so much milk and butter to poor people that none remained for the family. She feared her mother's displeasure and so resorted to prayer. When her mother visited the dairy she found such an abundance of milk and butter that she praised the dairy maids for their industry. Brigid was also renowned for her love of animals and many stories were told of her kindness to stray and starving dogs.

Saint Brigid wanted to dedicate her life to God and refused to marry for her father.Her father eventually accepted her decision to take the veil. With seven other young women robed in white, she took her vows before Saint Mel, the abbot and bishop of Longford.

St Brigid founded the first convent in Ireland in County Westmeath. She founded many more monasteries, the most famous one in County Kildare.

St Brigid went on a journey around Ireland spreading the word of God. On her way she visited St Patrick. Having obtained St Patrick's blessing she continued on her journey.

St. Brigid's Cloak

When seeking land for her community, she asked the King of Leinster only for as much as her cloak would cover. The cloak miraculously spread over the whole of the Curragh, an area of grassland famous then and now for horse racing.

St. Brigid's Crosses

Many stories miracles of healing are attributed to Brigid, such as curing Iepers and giving speech to the dumb. There are tales of her turning water into ale or stone into salt, and many concern her rapport with animals. She also negotiated the release of captives. Perhaps the best known story is of her visit to a dying pagan chieftain. While she prayed, she plaited rushes into a cross. Thc chieftain heard her account of the cross as a Christian symbol, and was converted and baptised before he died. It is still customary on 1 February to plait Saint Brigid's Crosses, in the hope that they will protect a household in the year ahead.

Brigid has been called "Muire na nGael", "Mary of the Gaels" which translates as Our Lady of the Irish. She died in AD 525 and was buried in Downpatrick with our other patron Saints of Ireland St. Patrick and St. Columcille.