St. Brigid of Ireland Feastday: February 1 Brigid was probably
born at Faughart near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. Her parents were
baptized by St. Patrick, with whom she developed a close
friendship. According to legend, her father was Dubhthach, an
Irish chieftain of Lienster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave
at his court. Even as a young girl she evinced an interest for a
religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille
at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who
is believed to have conferred abbatial authority on her. She
settled with seven of her virgins at the foot of Croghan Hill
for a time and about the year 468, followed Mel to Meath. About
the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara
(Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland.
The foundation developed into a center of learning and
spirituality, and around it grew up the Cathedral city of
Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its
illuminated manuscripts became famous, notab