Events

Please note that photography/filming will be taking place at each of the Brigid 1500 events for promotional and archival purposes. The photographs and recordings taken are likely to be used for promotional use and will appear on our website. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please let the photographer or videographer know on the day. If you have any queries about data protection, please contact [email protected].

4pmKildare Town will transform into an open air art gallery, when more than 20 local businesses will exhibit 60 works of international and national art in their windows as part of the Brigid 1500 celebrations in the new year. This uniquely accessible art exhibition titled “Unravelling an Icon, Celebrating and Remembering Brigid and her Legacy,” was organised by Sult Artist-led Collective based in Kildare, to reflect the traditions, customs and symbols associated with Brigid’s legacy, to mark the 1500th anniversary of the death of Brigid in February 2024.The exhibition will include paintings, ceramics, photography, film, sculpture, animation, printmaking, stitching, felting, weaving, digital art, stained glass, drawing, embroidery, mosaic, mixed media, batik and textile works.The exhibition art trail, “Unravelling an Icon, Celebrating and Remembering Brigid and her Legacy,” will be accompanied by a high-quality, limited-edition catalogue of the selected artworks and this will be available during the celebrations to mark Brigid’s anniversary. In addition, the local children from Ballyshannon National School and Kildare Town Educate Together are currently working with Sult Artist, Liza Kavanagh, on their interpretation of Brigid and their work will be displayed on a monitor in Southwells in Kildare Town Group: Sult Location: Kildare Town Additional Information: Louise Cassidy 086 383 5727 / [email protected] , Claire Keane 087 121 4140 / [email protected]

Location: Solas Bhride Cetre, Kildare Town Welcome to "Inextinguishable," an art exhibition where I celebrate the spirit of Brigid using recycled cardboard as my canvas. Brigid, a revered figure in Irish culture, holds a special place in our hearts, making her influence truly 'inextinguishable.' My artworks, crafted from recycled double corrugated cardboard, breathe new life into this common material sourced from shops, stores, and even friends and family. By using this everyday material, I aim to recycle and reintegrate it into the very idea of transport, as seen in cardboard boxes moving products. This process also symbolically connects with the myths and stories of Brigid and Saint Bridget. As you explore the exhibition, you'll notice the sculptural presence of the artwork in space. Playing with inner and outer surfaces, it beckons the viewer closer and pushes them away, creating a dynamic engagement. To me, the connection between the structures and the material is profound – both hidden in plain sight, often taken for granted, yet possessing an inner power and beauty that deserves recognition. Come witness the fusion of myth, material, and art in a celebration of Brigid's enduring significance. If you have any queries about the work or if you are looking for pricing, please contact Greg on any of the following below: www.greghallahanart.com [email protected] instagram@greg_hallahan_art 0851509314

Location: Maynooth Library Join Beth from willow wonder for a St Brigid's cross making workshop as part of the Brigid1500 Festival, ' a programme of events to celebrate and commemorate St. Brigid the woman, the life and the legacy. Working with rushes gathered on Brigid's pastures, workshop participants will weave together and remember a woman and an inspiration to us all.Book your free ticket here: https://buytickets.at/maynoothlibrary/1105694 Group: Library Service Location: Maynooth

Presenter:  Eoghan CorryVenue: Kildare Education Support Centre, Friary Road, Kildare Town Booking:  Kildare Education Support Centre  https://bit.ly/3SFelUsAdmission: FREE– Sponsored by Kildare Education Support CentreEnquiries to Kildare Education Support  Centre:  Phone 045-530200email: [email protected]

Go out into the natural world, look, listen and know your place within creation.Presenters:  Solas Bhríde TeamTime: 10.30 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.Venue: Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre, Tully Road Admission: €5.00 (Sponsored event – incl tea/coffeeEnquiries to: www.solasbhride.ie or [email protected]

Hosted by: Afri – Action from IrelandVenue: Solas Bhríde Spirituality CentreTime: 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Admission: €35.00   Concession: €20.00Enquires to: [email protected] or Tel: +353 (0)1 838420 Further information on Féile Bríde available at: Solas Bhríde CentrePh: 045 522890 Email: [email protected] www.solasbhride.ie  Heritage CentreFor further events in Kildare Town please contact The Heritage Centre:Ph: 045 530672 Email: [email protected]  www.kildareheritage.com

Song of the Sea is an enchanting film from the director of Academy Award nominated The Secret of Kells. The story is a magical adventure steeped in the wondrous worlds of Irish myth and inspired by the legend of the “selkies” — magical beings who live as seals in water and humans on land. Young Ben and his little sister Saoirse live with their widower father in a lighthouse by the sea. When the silent Saoirse — who at six years old has yet to utter a single word — discovers a shell flute that used to belong to their mother, the spellbinding music she creates unlocks a magical secret about her mother’s past.  Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Film 2015. Winner Best Film, Irish Film & Television Awards 2015. Group: Kilcullen Bridge Cinema Location: Kilcullen Town Hall and Heritage Centre Additional Information: Kilcullen Bridge Cinema, supported by Kildare County Council, will celebrate the legacy of Saint Brigid this Spring with a series of films that depict the values she represented. A range of films with themes of equality, peace, social justice and leadership will be screened in Kilcullen Town Hall and Heritage Centre. The season will include award winning, acclaimed and inspiring Irish and international titles. Film tickets are available in Woodbine Books Kilcullen and on Eventbrite. All tickets are €5 and tickets for the Family Cinema Day are €4.

The next film in the Brigid 1500 film season is Girl. A moving and memorable film from director Adura Onashile. It examines the anxious existence of mother and daughter Grace and Ama, fleeing violence in their home country and coming to terms with life in a Glasgow council estate. Showing Tuesday February 20th, Kilcullen Town Hall and Heritage Centre. Refreshments 7.30pm and film 8pm. All tickets €5, available in Woodbine Books and on Eventbrite.

The  Brigid 1500 Film Season, hosted by Kilcullen Bridge Cinema, concludes next Tuesday February 28th with La Syndicaliste. It is fifth in a series of films that portray strong, brave, resilient female characters. Supported by Kildare County Council, all films celebrate the legacy of Saint Brigid and the values she represented. A French thriller, La Syndicaliste tells the extraordinary real-life story of Irish woman Maureen Kearney, a senior trade union representative-turned-whistleblower in a French power company. Maureen’s efforts to expose top-secret deals met with fierce resistance from powerful people. Her life was turned upside down when she was violently assaulted and then subsequently accused by police of faking the attack. "You may never have heard of Maureen Kearney, but you won’t forget her after this"- Irish Independent★★★★ "La Syndicaliste is a fascinating true crime drama that unfolds like a thriller"- Irish Examiner★★★★ Refreshments 7.30pm and film 8pm. 122 minutes, France/Germany, subtitled, 15A (IFCO rating) All tickets €5, available in Woodbine Books and on Eventbrite.

8pmEdel Meade from Co. Tipperary is one of Ireland's leading performers, noted for her stunning voice and mesmerising live performances. Join her for a very special solo concert performance weaving together a beautiful selection of music, stories and songs related to Brigid, Gobnait and Sheela-na-gig drawing from Irish folklore and mythology and premiering a brand new original song composed specially for this event. Tickets available from https://www.riverbank.ie/ Group: Edel Meade Location: Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

An International Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Brigid will take place in Kildare Town on Saturday 15th June, 2024. A unique cultural event, it will be interspersed with reflection, storytelling, music, poetry, and prayer. The event aims to commemorate the 1500th Anniversary of St. Brigid’s life and her influential role as a pioneering woman of Ireland. The day will highlight her extraordinary achievements, spiritual legacy and lasting impact on society and relevance for today, through pilgrimage. Pilgrims are invited to gather at Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre for registration and refreshment at 10am. Following which, the group will transfer by bus to take a walk on The Curragh Plain, 'St. Brigid's Pastures'. The group will also visit the historic town of Kildare, taking in St. Brigid's Cathedral and St. Brigid's Church to see the Relic of St. Brigid. Returning for a light lunch, the visitors will walk to St. Brigid's Well, followed by a closing ritual at Solas Bhríde. Pilgrims are advised to dress for the weather and prepare for a walk of approximately 2km. This year's marking of the 1500th Anniversary of St. Brigid's life has brought many more visitors to Solas Bhríde and Co. Kildare, travelling from as far as Australia, the United States of America and across Europe. If you would like to participate in this unique event, more information and details on how to book a place for June 15th may be found on the website  https://solasbhride.ie/