Saint Brigid or St. Brigid also spelled Bridget, Bride, Brid, Brigit, was the first female Bishop in the Catholic Church in Ireland and was a 5th Century contemporary of St. Patrick. She is the female patron Saint of Ireland. St. Bridget also known as Mary of the Gael is the patron saint of amongst other things: babies; blacksmiths; boatmen; cattle; chicken farmers; children whose parents are not married; children whose mothers are mistreated by the children's fathers; fugitives; infants;midwives; milk maids; nuns; poets; the poor; poultry farmers; printing presses; sailors; scholars and travellers. She is a busy woman! My store, Biddy Murphy Celtic Goods in South Haven, Michigan is called after my mother Bridget (Biddy) Murphy. The enclosed St. Brigid’s Cross is made from rushes from the bogs of the Irish Midlands.Tradition has it that they are placed above doorways in homes throughout Ireland and especially in rural areas above the barn doors as it was believed that the cross provided protection and blessed all who walked across the threshold beneath her cross.