The Brigid 1500 festival has been launched by Kildare tourism with an elaborate fire ceremony.
Eleanor McEvoy performed at the launch event at Barberstown Castle, Straffan.
Concerts, street festivals, food events and light shows will distinguish the 1500th anniversary of the saint’s death on February 1 AD523.
Mary Corcoran, chair of the Brigit 1500 committee, outlined some of the events:
- Mother Earth a day of food and music set in the barn in Leixlip.
- We shall overcome, songs of justice and freedom in Athy
- Nothing Compares: A Celebration of Irish Women Artists in the Moat theatre, Naas.
- She Moved Through the Fair an evening of song in St Brigit’s Cathedral
- Light shows around Clane, Newbridge and Athy on January 31st 2024.
- Naas February the 1st and the new Naas library and Cultural Centre
- Two fiery processional events to celebrate Brigit in the over the bank holiday weekend on Thursday the 1st of February 2024
- Ecumenical service in St Brigit’s Cathedral, a service of thanksgiving to mark the feast day of St Brigit.
Sonya Kavanagh, CEO of Kildare County Council said “our grand scheme will support a wide range of Community Driven projects that aim to celebrate some Brigit’s Legacy. Diaspora events will connect us with Irish communities all around the world creating a global celebration of our heritage. Craft workshops and library program will provide hands-on experiences and opportunities for knowledge sharing. Our dedicated schools programme will engage our young minds in learning about St Brigit and her values. Theatre programmes will bring her story to life on stage. Historical talks and walks will uncover the stories and history behind the places she touched. We will unveil commissioned Brigit art pieces celebrating the artistic talent inspired by her legacy. The Sult exhibition and windows displays will showcase our rich culture through various forms of art and expression .Our shared service initiative will facilitate community efforts in preserving her heritage.”
Tracey O’Dwyer Leas Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council said: “she embodies qualities that Define our culture compassion creativity biodiversity and resilience she was a Beacon of Hope peace and compassion I read a line actually recently that reference St Bridget as a peacemaker, how she had asked for an abundance of peace, and I just thought how relevant that is in this modern day.”
Mary Corcoran, chair of the Brigit 1500 committee, commended Brigit’s “in her creativity and resilience, she exemplified the very qualities that Define our culture and our heritage and she was a symbol of hope, a pioneer and an embodiment of the Irish Spirit. We will honour St Bridget’s Legacy not just in words but through our actions through our art and our shared commitment to preserving Ireland’s cultural Treasures now”
Revd Philip McKinley, chair of the spiritual, heritage and biodiversity working group said: “our past, our identity that shapes so much of our national identity and unlocking values and ideas that are a springboard for our future. we going deep into our past to help us navigate the complexity of our future we live in a world of war we live in a world of dating apps. Remember that St Brigit plucked her own eye out so she would not be married off by her father. Brigit represented the great things that Inspire us empower us. It’s going to be really transformative for the town, for the whole county and it’s going to have a lasting legacy, this inspirational amazing woman St Brigit, inspiring and shaping Ireland.”
David Mongey of Kildare tourism told guests: “we must take great gratitude to our parents to the people before us and when you think of the 1500 years since she’s passed away that we still remember her legacy. “There’s a whole combination of activities that can happen in K there we’ve got great hotels great hospitality and interesting enough St Bridget is the patron of the brew. Great thanks must go to the custodians who have passed on that tradition to us. I think in particular about my own parents and all you people have parents like them, to the great work our teachers have done in making St Brigit’s crosses in our classes. That that is how we’re going to transfer this Legacy going forward.”
Details on https://brigid1500.ie
