The 1st of February marks the first day of spring. In Ireland it is known as Lá Fhéile Bhríde. St Brigid's Day this year will mark the 1500th anniversary of her birth.

St Brigid of Kildare is an historic figure and one of Irelands three patron saints, alongside St Patrick and St Columba. St Brigid was an influential figure in the early Irish church, an abbess and female bishop. Many legends and myths surround the wisdom, gentleness, ferocity and miracles of her life. Pre-eminent is the story of how she wove crosses from wild Irish rushes, a tradition carried on throughout Ireland to this day.

In pre Christian ancient Irish mythology, Brigid appears as a fire goddess, as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the daughter of the Dagda and wife of Bres, with whom she had a son named Ruadán. She was the god of several skills and qualities including wisdom and poetry. She had curative and protective powers. She was also the god of fire and fittingly for this jewellery page, she was the god of forging and blacksmithing. Her qualities were so numerous and significant that she may well have been a dual god, Brigid the Healer and Brigid The Smith. Prior to the arrival of Christianity her annual feast day was known as the Celtic celebration Imbolc.

Martina Hamilton has drawn upon the timeless traditions surrounding St Brigid the patron saint, Brigid the smith, the poet, the wise and gentle protector, and created this collection of crosses woven in hallmarked silver and gold.

The crosses are worn year round as a symbol of love and protection.