St Brigid's Day fundraising efforts no cross to bear for Delia

A MULHUSSEY woman has been busy crafting 2,000 St Brigid's crosses these last few weeks- to raise funds for Women's Aid.

Delia Heneghan makes the iconic crosses at the home she shares with her brother Pat in Mulhussey from rushes that grow on their farmland.

Delia started working on the crosses on 28th December and is aiming to have 2,000 completed by St Brigid's Day.

She has made tens of thousands for charity over the past 18 years and raised €6,450 last year for Debra Ireland, which caters for children with EB or 'Butterfly Skin' and made €5,00 the previous year for the Jack and Jill foundation. Her crosses have been sent around the world to places like England, Canada, US and Dubai.

Delia has become a bit of a TV celebrity over the past few years, as she was featured on RTE's Today Show last year on St Brigid's Day and she was filmed at Bloom last summer.

The iconic crosses will be available at masses in the three Kilcloon Parish churches, on Saturday 1st February in Little Chapel, Kilcock and on Sunday 2nd February in Batterstown and Kilcloon Churches. They are also available in Clarke’s shop Kilcloon, Walshe's butcher and Dee's hairdressers in Kilcock and Fran Doolin butcher in Batterstown. Kevin Taggart in the Square, Kilcock will have them available on Saturdays. Anyone who wishes to take one is asked to make a donation.

The traditional hand-made crosses have been on display in homes in the Kilcloon /Batterstown Parish and further afield for years, thanks to Delia’s efforts.

She says she averages about 50 crosses a day, but staying at home during the recent very cold weather she was making 80 a day.

“I love making the crosses and I love the thought that people like to display them in their homes,” she says.

“A neighbour taught me and now I could do it in my sleep. I make them while I am watching television.”

She started making the crosses 20 years ago for the local holy well, St Brigid's Well. “I used to do it to raise the money for insurance for the well, but I was making more money than was needed for the insurance and gave what was left over to charity.

“I decided 18 years ago to make lots more of them, make more money and give it to charity,” she explains.

Delia has always had a devotion to St Brigid who is her patron saint. “I was baptised, Brigid Teresa Geraldine although my family always called me Delia.”