St Brigid’s day

Brigid the Earthwoman, Irish Mandela, Woman of Compassion are just some of the titles explored in this week’s Féile Bríde 2010, an annual festival in Kildare town that celebrates Brigid of Kildare.

St Brigid’s day is 1st February and marks the start of spring or the ancient festival Imbolac.  The feast day is celebrated throughout the country but in particular in Kildare and the surrounding diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

In St Peter and St Paul’s Parish Church in Portlaoise on Sunday a local Brigidine nun Sr Eileen Deegan weaved a St Brigid’s cross whilst giving a talk about the woman who has become known as the second saint of Ireland, although some would claim the Brigid should be joint patron saint with St Patrick.

Sr Eileen spoke of St Brigid as a woman of compassion who often fed the hungry with her own food.  She was also a peacemaker and is depicted in artwork in a church in Kildare with a sword underfoot.  St Brigid was also someone who demonstrated again and again the importance of hospitality.  When the talk was concluded Sr Eileen held her completed cross aloft and bestowed the saint’s blessing on the congregation.

May Brigid bless the house wherein you dwell,
Bless every fireside, every wall and floor,
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof
And every tongue and mind forevermore.

The Féile Bríde runs from January 31 - February 7 with speakers, poets, and musicians and the week culminates in an Afri Justice and Peace Conference on February 6.  Afri will be addressed by Richard Moore who was blinded by a rubber bullet when he was 10 years old, and was recently featured in a BBC documentary Blind Vision in which he met the soldier who blinded him.  Both the soldier and Richard will light the flame together at Féile Bríde.  He works for the humanitarian group Children in Crossfire that helps children caught up in violence.

The festival has the theme Brigid: Earthwoman – Weaving a new Vision and includes walks around the monastic city of Kildare with Mario Corrigan and on the Curragh Plain led by Dr. John Feehan, UCD,  author of The Curragh of Kildare, Ireland.

There are workshops on the weaving of St. Brigid’s crosses and other customs and traditions of Brigid.  Among the topics featured are: Brigid, Woman of Compassion facilitated by Carmel Boyle, and: Brigid: An Irish Mandela
by Denis Crosby, Liscannor, Co. Clare.

A workshop: Universe Story: Our Story - Weaving a New Vision links the writings of Thomas Berry, Earth scholar, and the Legends of Brigid of Kildare. 
Phone: +353 (0) 45 522890
Email: info@solasbhride.ie