Bray and Enniskerry Partnership is now St. Valerie’s Partnership

The name is from St. Valerie’s Cross. St Valerie’s Cross stands on Fassaroe Lane, looking out over Bray and Enniskerry. It gets its name from a nearby house called St Valerie’s, which no longer exists. This house was once lived in by a family with Norman background. 

A writer named Anne Plumptre, who visited the family in 1814 and 1815, wrote that the cross was originally brought from a nearby valley to the house.Over time, many people came to pray there, so it was moved to its current spot to make it easier for visitors to reach.The cross is part of a group of four similar crosses known as the Fassaroe Group. Experts believe they were carved in the late 1100s. The other crosses in this group can be found at Rathmichael, Killegar, and Shankill. These crosses originate from a time when monasteries were very important in the area, supported by the Normans who came from France. St. Valerie was an early Christian martyr venerated in France, especially in Limoges. Her name was likely given to the cross, making her a suitable patron for the Bray and Enniskerry partnership of parishes. St. Valerie’s Cross was also the focus for our partnership pilgrimage during the 2025 Holy Year.