FOLK21 St Brigid's Crosses Exhibition

21 St Brigid's crosses from regions throughout Ireland are now on display at the National Museum of Ireland, Country Life in Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo as part of FOLK 21, a new series of events that will run throughout 2022

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This three legged type cross is made of green rushes from Teelin, Co. Donegal. Each leg consisists of about 16 rushes gathered and tied with a rush about 1.5 cm from end. The distance in a straight line between the tips of the legs is 17 cm and the legs themselves are about 7 cm long. The side of the triangle is 8 cm. Donated by Thomas H Mason, Photographer, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

This is a multiple diamond type cross made of straw and rushes on a foundation of rods from Edenmore Co. Monaghan. The foundation has two main members, each 26 cm long, in the form of a Greek cross, with a subsidiary member at right angles near the ends of the main members. The members are secured at each junction with a single nail. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC). Presented by Stiophan Mac Philib, National School Teacher, Edenmore, Co. Monaghan.

A simple square cross of neatly woven straw on a foundation which consists of two slender paired sticks, each about 9.5 cm long tied together in the form of a Greek cross. The straw has been wrapped around the sticks so that no part of them is visible. The square measures 6 by 6 cm. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC). Presented by Padhraic O Gachain, Muinteoir, Cheathru Thaidhg, Co Mayo.

An unusual cross made from a single slender twig with bark still on (or possibly heather), twisted into a roughly circular shape with an enclosed cross. The twig is tied in two places with string. The greatest diameter of the twig is 4 mm. The oval frame measures 8.7 cm along one diameter and 7.1 cm along the other. The upper shaft of the cross is about 3 cm long, the lower about 4 cm. Donated by Miss Áine Ni Chroinin, Charleville, Co Cork, through Saamus O Duilearga, Folklore of Ireland Society (this was the precursor to the Irish Folklife Commission, set up in 1926). Aine Ni Chroinin went on to study at UCD and become a renowned Irish scholar and folklore collector.

Made of green rushes this cross consists of a flat band almost 9 cm in width and tapering at the bottom, from the top of which two horns project. The total length is 24 cm, the length of the band minus the horns being 18.5 cm. The band itself consists of 26 rushes woven under and over each other alternately and gathered and tied with a rush at the bottom in a tassel 4 cm long. The rushes forming the band are then separated into two nearly equal bundles and drawn out into the horns. The ends of the horns are tied with rushes leaving part of the stalks projecting in stiff tassels. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC).

Swastika type cross made of straw. Measures 29 cm in overall length in one direction and 27 cm in the other. The square at the centre measures 10 cm along the side. The cross has a pair of parallel straight straws at the centre. Three of the arms have thirteen doubled straws each and the fourth has fourteen doubled straws. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC). Presented by Michael Gallagher, National School Teacher. Made by Mrs McTernan, Gortnacorkoge, Killarga, Co. Leitrim.

Consists of two plaits of straw joined in the form of a Latin cross. The plaits are about 1.7 cm in max. width. The shaft measures 28 cm and the transom 25 cm. They cross at the distance of 9 cm from the top of the shaft and are stitched together with thread. The ends of the members are bound with white thread. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC). Presented by Denis Hegarty, National School Teacher, Johnswell, Co. Kilkenny. Made by Paddy Manning, a native of The Butts of the Ridge, on the Carlow-Kilkenny border.

Made of a sheet of cardboard cut in the shape of cross and covered with cloth. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC). Presented by Padraig O Fiannachta, National School Teacher, Kells, Co. Kerry. Made by Liam Siubhloid (William Walker), a pupil of Kells National School, under the instruction of his uncle, Liam O Mionseil (William Maunsel), age 80, both natives of Kells. O Fiannachta noted that “This type of cross was worn in the district in the old days. It was worn on the lapel of the coat. Originally, the green colour was obtained from the penny leaf, the red from human blood drawn from the finger, the blue from heather, and the yellow from onion skin.”

Made of rushes in the form of a Greek cross. Each member is about 32 cm long and composed of 15 rushes. Where the members meet, the separate rushes of one member are woven alternately under and over the separate rushes of the other member. In this way the two members are fastened together. Outside the junction, the rushes of each arm are woven alternately under and over each other. At the end of each arm the rushes are separated into two bunches and each bunch is tied with a single rush. Donated by the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC). Presented by Mr T.G.F Paterson, Curator of the County Museum, Armagh.

Mon Jan 31 2022 - 20:38

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