The return of the sacred relics of Saint Brigid to County Kildare after nearly a millennium wil drive tourism in the county, minister Catherine Martin said at a function on Solas Bhríde near Kildare town.
Hundreds of pilgrims and locals gathered at St. Brigid’s Parish Church in Kildare Town to see them.
The relics were brought to the church in a formal procession led by three primary school girls on horseback, representing the knights who originally brought the relics from Ireland to Portugal.
The Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin formally accepted the relics on the steps of the church, and they were placed on a display plinth inside.
Dignitaries in attendance included local officials and the relics were brought home to County Kildare to celebrate the 1500th year of Saint Brigid’s passing.
Ms Martin said: “Funding that I have secured in Budget 2024 will allow Tourism Ireland to develop new marketing opportunities such as St Brigid’s day. I think there’s real potential in this. that will help extend the tourism season and encourage visitors to explore the less visited parts of Ireland.
I think there’s real potential in pilgrim tourism. We see it all around the world in other places like the Camino. I think there’s um wonderful opportunity here. Pilgrims do travel to Kildareand to far already and we and we intend to build on that which can only be good news for the full region here. This year Tourism Ireland intend on leveraging the day named in her honour overseas to strengthen the perception of spring travel to Ireland through inspiring storytelling, creativity and the arts and the theme of the campaign will centre on the wider topic of Imbolc, Irish mythology and the creativity of modern Irish women“
