Ireland may be synonymous with St Patrick, but it’s now St Brigid’s time to shine.
After several years of campaigning St Brigid’s Day has finally become a public holiday and it is the first one to be named after a woman. About time, we say!
This year we will have a day off to celebrate Brigid and, of course, there will be events around the country to mark this event.
Last year we saw a festival named Brigit: Dublin City Celebrating Women kick-off and this year it is returning to the capital.
The events will run from February 1st, St Brigid’s Day until February 6th, the bank holiday. The festival won’t just focus on Brigid, no it will celebrate the work of women across the country.
The festival has drawn inspiration from the Celtic goddess Brigit who is associated with creativity, wisdom, rebellion and the traditional festival of Imbolc celebrating the start of Spring. You can expect tours, talks, workshops, exhibitions and performances.
There will be a series of walking tours that focus on inspirational Irish women in the curated series Women Walk the City. You can join forager and herbalist Feebee Foran, artist and illustrator Eva Kelly, teacher and psychotherapist Dr Karen Ward and others for their unique perspectives on the city.
On Sunday 5th February from 12pm to 4pm Meeting House Square will be transformed into an Imbolc Village, celebrating the spirit of the Celtic goddess Brigit and welcoming the Spring with an array of activities for all ages. In honour of Brigit as a patron of poetry, resident poet Osaro will help you craft your very own, one-of-a-kind poetic masterpiece. There will be a body painting workshop, you can learn about the art of blacksmithing or join in a wise women’s weaving circle. You can connect to your inner goddess with an Imbolc Tarot reading.
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To honour Brigit through song and music, Hugh Lane Gallery will be staying open late and celebrating with an evening of new performances with their ‘Leave the Door Open’ concert, hosted by artist Isadora Epstein alongside musicians and artists such as Aisling-ór níAodha, Stéphane Béna Hanly, Róisín ní Haicéid, and Meabh McKenna.
And throughout the week, drop by Barnardos Square after dark to take in a mesmerising illustration and light projection designed by Irish illustrator Bronagh Lee from Wednesday to Monday 6, On Sunday evening, there will be an aerial performance inspired by Bronagh’s artwork with music by Irish multidisciplinary composer Ellen King aka ELLL.
Róisín Ingle will be joined by authors Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick as they illuminate the dark side of life as an Irish female emigrant with stories from their new book – Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women.
Or tune in online for an informative discussion on A New View of Palestine showcasing four short films followed by a Q&A with Ms Manal Dasouqi, Director General of Trade at the Ministry of National Economy, State of Palestine.
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If you’re looking for something completely different, a Create Your Own Boob Pots workshop will take place on Friday 3rd of February, where participants will be able to create their very own unique pot out of clay in under two hours. While the Dublin Sewcial Club are hosting a free meet-up on February 1st for those interested in meeting other stitchers and sharing ideas.
You can find out more here.