Laois yarnbombers gift Brat Brid blankets to nursing home
A Laois yarnbombing group has gifted handmade Brat Bride blankets to their local nursing home.
The crafty women in Yarn Bombing Mountmellick crocheted over a dozen beautiful lap blankets for the elderly residents of the HSE's St Vincent's Community Nursing Unit.
They followed the tradition of leaving all the blankets outside on the eve of St Brigid's Day, February 1, collecting them at dawn the next morning, as it is held that the saint and goddess passes over the land, blessing all she touches with the gift of healing.
The group explained more on their social media page.
"We’re so excited about this project! It has kept us busy for a while now, (granny squares = easy but laborious). Weaving in the ends of each square involved wine! We’re NGL!! One “black sheep” amongst us gave up and did granny ripples instead. She who shall not be named.
"However, just look at this stack of gorgeousness! We could cuddle them forever. This is our interpretation of the Irish tradition known as “Brat Bhríde”; in honour of one of the many fabulous Mná na hÉireann, St Brigid.
"We are leaving them out now, before sunset. We will take them in tomorrow morning, before sunrise. We will give them a good air in the hot press tomorrow morning, before delivering them to their destination in the afternoon."
"We presented our bratanna Bhríde to the team and residents, and wow- just, WOW! THE SMILES!
"We popped into the chapel there to see their own homage to St Brigid. It is beautiful.
"Our cherry tree is still there too- blooming marvellous!"
"We’re a bit lost for words because this project is imbued with such a depth of feeling from us to this wonderful caring facility on our doorstep. We dipped in and out of the squares (and ripples) during all of 2023.
"However, not all of us could make it there today as a few of us are under the weather. So, this was a lovely way for us to express our own team spirit, despite the adversities. We have a little “spring” in our step on this Lá Fhéile Bríde and Imbolc. We wish you all the same," the group signed off.
The first new St Brigid's Day Bank Holiday takes place this Monday, February 6.