St. Brigid’s Crosses are made from rushes. Rushes are a grass like plant that grow on wet land. They grow plentifully all over Ireland. Each year, the rushes for the St. Brigid’s Crosses we make in Scoil Bhríde are collected on the lands of the Bland family near Ballyroan.

Why use rushes?

According to legend, a pagan chieftain from the neighbourhood of Kildare was dying. Christians in his household sent for Brigid to talk to him about Christ. When she arrived the chieftain was raving. Brigid sat down at his bedside and began consoling him. As was customary, the dirt floor was strewn with rushes both for warmth and cleanliness. Brigid stooped down and started to weave them into a cross, fastening the points together. The sick man asked what she was doing. She began to explain the cross, and as she talked he questioned her with growing interest. Through her weaving, he converted and was baptized at the point of death.