Imbolc and St Brigid's Day

Cattle at Imbolc and St Brigid's Day

In the old Gaelic calendar, Imbolc on 1 February opened the spring, when ewes came into milk and the days began to lengthen. It is also the feast of St Brigid of Kildare, who in Irish tradition is closely tied to cattle and dairying: stories tell of her childhood on the milk of a white, red-eared cow, of butter that multiplied in her hands, and of her gift of food to the poor from the dairy. Households wove Brigid's crosses from rushes and hung them over the doors of house and byre to protect people and cattle for the year. Since 2023 Ireland has had a public holiday for the saint in early February.

The breeds

KerryThe small black dairy cow of the Irish south-west.DexterA small Irish breed kept on many smallholdings.Irish MoiledA rare red and white hornless Irish breed.