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To celebrate St Brigid s Day, Dr Billy Shorthall, research fellow at the Cuala Press project, shows us how St Brigid was celebrated in the visual art of Cuala Industries, a female run arts and crafts cooperative in the early 20th century.
A St Brigid s Cross made by Karen McCabe.
On Monday, we celebrated St Brigid’s day, or Lá Fhéile Brigide in our native tongue.
Variations of the name are Bridget in English, Bríd in modern Irish.
Did you know that Ireland has three patron saints?
We all know about Patrick but Colmcille is another, while Brigid is the third.
The feast day of St Brigid, on 1 February, coincides with a time of the year when we feel that brighter days are on the horizon.
Crosses made from rushes were given her name, while in parts of the country people carried small dolls called brídeogs from house to house on her feast day as they sought alms.