Press release
Celebrate Saint Brigid’s Day with our national cultural institutions
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, has today (Thursday 30 January) encouraged members of the public to participate in the Saint Brigid’s Day programme of cultural events taking place nationwide across the National Cultural Institutions to mark the bank holiday.
Entering its second year of celebrations, the St. Brigid’s Day/Imbolc bank holiday aims to acknowledge and honour St. Brigid herself, and the central and unique role of women in today’s society, as well as in our history and culture.
Speaking today, Minister O’Donovan said:
“Saint Brigid’s Day, and the newly associated bank holiday, is a unique and rare opportunity for us to celebrate not only our heritage, but also our present and future. As Antoine Ó Raifteirí once wrote, ‘Anois teacht an Earraigh, beidh an lá dúl chun síneadh’. After a long winter, it is time to welcome the brighter days the spring brings and look forward with optimism to the future.
“It is with this in mind that I am proud to share the Saint Brigid’s Day programme of cultural events taking place across the country, and I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to attend and participate in the events.”
With roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, which marked the arrival of spring, St Brigid’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate growth, renewal and light. In Celtic mythology, Brigid was a triple goddess – of healing, fire, and of poetry. The Christian saint who took her name, born in 450 AD, carried some of those same associations as the patron saint of poets and midwives. As such, this bank holiday carries a dual opportunity to recognise the role of women through our arts and cultural heritage.
Inspired by our Celtic heritage and the legend of St. Brigid, our National Cultural Institutions have organised an exciting programme of events over the long weekend, complemented by community activities nationwide.
These include:
In the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks `
In the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park
In the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare St.
In the National Library of Ireland, Kildare St.
Elsewhere, the Chester Beatty Library will celebrate St. Brigid through a poetry and art workshop.
As well as through a family friendly film screening: Wolfwalkers.
Meanwhile, in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Creative Ireland invites you to St. Brigid’s Festival at Úna Bhán – A Celebration for All.
Limerick’s Hunt Museum will host storytelling sessions in the Captain’s Room.
Clondalkin, in Dublin, will host their annual Féile Bhríde.
And Kildare, the home of the Saint, will have a full slate of activities.