By Michael McHugh, Editor

It’s an ancient tradition as old as the hills of Donegal themselves and thanks to a dedicated group of people, it is enjoying a revival.
St. Brigid’s crosses were as much a part of life in Donegal homes, as the fields that provided the potato.
John Byrne, President of the Donegal AOH says that the tradition was dying about twenty years ago. The AOH took a decision that they would do their utmost to ensure that a piece of cultural identity embedded for generations of Irish people would not be lost.
“It was a tradition that was quietly dying out and we decided as a group to try and reinvigorate the tradition. The late Fr Jimmy Shields, who was our Chaplain at the time, was one of the prime movers and we are now finding that there is a ready audience out there,” he told the Donegal Post.
This Sunday night on the eve of St. Brigid’s that tradition will continue with a night of cross making in Mohan’s Lounge, Frosses, beginning at 9pm.
“We have held these events all over the county, but there was such a great turnout last year in Frosses, we decided to go there again in 2010.”
John has been making crosses for over forty years and it is something that anyone can make.
“The traditional green rushes are used to make the crosses and used to be placed in the couple of the thatched cottages to help prevent harm coming to other the house or its occupants,” he said.
John says that the tradition is particularly strong on areas like the Glen of Glenties, Ardara and Glencolmcille.
“Our hope is that every home in the county will continue to have a new cross in their home, each and every year, made locally. With the recent cold snap, the rushes are in big demand, as the cold will have affected them, but what a wonderful legacy to hand onto the next generation of young Donegal people.
If you are near Frosses, drop in Mohan’s, entertainment is provided by ‘Just me’ and there will be a draw on the night for charity. As well as learning how to make the cross, you can also find out its history and learn about the life of St. Brigid herself.