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. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net
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