“It is the time of year again when I Margaret Carmody Knockanure, present to the Hospice Branch Listowel a Bank Draft to the value of €1,100 – proceeds from donations received from Local business people and neighbours towards the tradition of weaving St. Brigid’s Crosses. To the following business people their wonderful staff and friends who helped so generously in providing the facility towards promoting and obtaining donations to the amount of €1,100.00: Listowel Arms Hotel, Mags Deli Listowel, SuperValu Café Listowel, Holly’s Gala Moyvane, Brosnans’ Daybreak Tarbert, O’Flynns Centra Ballylongford, The Bridewell Centre Tarbert, McKenna’s Electrical Listowel, Jim Gould Shop Kilmorna, Johnny Burns Duagh. A special word of thanks to Jeremiah Kennelly for providing the rushes to Eileen Kennelly, Aine Moore Walsh in helping in weaving some crosses.”
“To date I am so pleased the amount I have donated to Hospice Listowel with the help of many is €25,600.00 along with €1,000.00 to Aras Mhuire Nursing Home Listowel. This donation is in appreciation of the wonderful care provided at Listowel Hospital by the Nurses and Staff with financial support from the Local Listowel Hospice Group. Listowel Hospice Group are a fantastic group of people who have over many years provided Hospice care to the Listowel Area by way of supporting our local Listowel Hospital with Hospice Beds and facilities for the families also with funds to upgrade the necessary facilities for the care needed by Hospice Patients and their families.”
“I am thrilled after all the years that St Brigid’s is so well recognised with an Annual Bank Holiday and the weaving of St. Brigid’s Crosses was formally recognized as part of Ireland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in July 2024, the cultural significance of St. Brigid’s Crosses are traditionally woven from rushes on February 1st to protect homes from fire, evil, and misfortune. To weave them is a labour of love, the rushes have to be sourced, washed sanitized dried, cut to measure then start the weaving and lastly have them blessed.”
Pictured L/R: Bridgette Hogan, Eileen Sheehy, Marie Moran, Theresa Grimes, Margaret Carmody, Carmel Canavan, Eileen Kennelly, Jenny Tarrant, Ann Marie Dineen. Photo by John Kelliher
