St Brigid's Day pilgrim walk from Allen

Image: Allen Area Historical & Heritage group.

The Allen Area Historical & Heritage group is organising a St Brigid's Day walk along the Ancient Path of St Brigid, celebrating Imbolc and welcoming the return of light, writes Brian Byrne. The pilgrimage will start from Allen Hall at 4.30pm.

Participants will walk to Crosspatrick, then return to Allen Hall. Along the way, there will be tales and poetry about St Brigid.

Registration is required, and can be done on the day at the hall from 3.45pm. 

The event is suitable for all ages. Suitable footwear and torches are required, as the path has some uneven surfaces.

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Cloak on the Moat returns for Bank Holiday

A reminder that the Cloak on the Moat celebration of St Brigid returns to the Moat of Ardscull TODAY Monday 3 February, hosted by Narraghmore's community choir Village Voices.

A celebration of St Brigid through music, song, dance and folklore, the choir will be joined on stage with guest artists Joseph Gorman, Kevin Morrin, Margaret Brennan and Paul Linehan. Local historian Colm Flynn will regale in folklore, Athy Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann will entertain and also joining in will be the St Laurence’s Set Dancers and the Kilmead Irish Figure Dance Class. 

The afternoon begins at 2pm and is a free event for all the family. No booking is required. There is also a prize for the best dressed St Brigid. 

As it is an outdoor event, those attending are advised to please dress appropriately and bring a chair or blanket for extra comfort.

The Moat of Ardscull is on the R418, near the village of Kilmead.

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Brigid 1500 Conference in September

A conference exploring the life and times of St Brigid will be held at Maynooth University on 13 and 14 September, writes Brian Byrne. Brigid's Worlds will feature speakers from Ireland, England, Scotland, Finland, Italy and the United States.

The format will be a blend of academic sessions, a public lecture, and a guided tour of Kildare town and Cathedral.

The event is part of Brigid 1500 and is organised by Kildare County Council and Maynooth University in conjunction with St Brigid’s Cathedral and Kildare Heritage Centre. Booking is required. For all details, go to this link. 

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Growing interest in Kilcullen's St Brigid's Well

All the interest in Brigid 1500 has had an unexpected effect on St Brigid's Well in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. Small religious items are being left there.

"It's the first time in my memory that this has happened," says Julie O'Donoghue of Kilcullen Library. "I love this — I think it shows a revival in the cult of St Brigid."

Julie says she had three enquiries in the last week as to the location of the well. "We need a sign," she says, adding that perhaps the booklet on the holy wells of Kildare has helped pique interest in the Kilcullen one.

A sculpture of St Brigid feeding the poor, by the late Fr Henry Flanagan OP, teacher and sculptor at Dominican College Newbridge, is part of the well in Kilcullen. The piece is built into the stonework above St Brigid's Well and was commissioned in 1977 when the well area was being built to what it is today as part of the development of the Valley Community Park.

The tradition of St Brigid's Well in Kilcullen is long-standing, and in 1937, Eileen Dowling, aged 13, wrote about it it the schools folklore project carried out at the time. As local historian Mary Orford notes, Eileen lived in Thomastown, Kilcullen and collected the information from her father during the project.

"In Kilcullen valley beside the river Liffey is St Brigid's Well," Eileen wrote. "On the feast of St Brigid however the nuns of the convent and also the children of the national school used to go down and get bottles of holy water from it." Further material from Ballyshannon National School, where Margaret Dowling was principal, is available on the National Folklore Collection website www.duchas.ie. 

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Another mosaic is placed

The latest of what will be five mosaics placed around Kilcullen has been installed at Scoil Bhride (above), writes Brian Byrne. It joins two others located at Main Street and Kilcullen Community Centre (below). 

The artworks are the result of a Thornton Lace project undertaken at the Bridge Camphill Community under the Brigid 1500 initiative.

They are being produced by artist Katy Palmieri, who says they are designed as abstract in form and ‘play with colour and energy’. The development of the project included four workshops held at Bridge Camphill which included participants from Scoil Bhride and CPC.  The events considered various aspects of the Thornton Lace social enterprise project in the 19th century established for Famine relief by a local rector’s wife in Kilcullen and which at its height provided work for up to 700 women in the area. 

The project is supported by a grant from Kildare County Council.

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Next Brigid 1500 film is on Tuesday

A reminder that the next and fourth film in the Kilcullenbridge Cinema season for Brigid 1500 is upcoming on Tuesday next 20 February. Girl is a debut film from British-Nigerian filmmaker Adura Onashile and explores what it is like for an immigrant mother and daughter resettling in Glasgow. 

The film is rich in atmosphere and social commentary with beautiful cinematography from Tasha Back. The Irish Times described it as “An auspicious feature debut”. 

All tickets are €5. Available in Woodbine Books and on Eventbrite. Doors open at 7.30pm with refreshments served. Film at 8pm.

The Brigid 1500 Film Season is supported by Kildare County Council. 

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Many faces of Brigid in Kilcullen cinema

The most recent film in the  Brigid 1500 Film Season screened last night in Kilcullen Town Hall and Heritage Centre, writes Teresa Nurse. A small and appreciative group of film fans gathered to enjoy the wine and hot drinks on offer before the film. 

Róise and Frank was a warm and entertaining watch, starring Bríd Ni Neachtáin as the soulful Róise who befriends a stray dog. 

It was the second in a range of films depicting female characters that are resilient, powerful and tenacious, celebrating the legacy of St Brigid. 

The next film is a family choice, Song of the Sea. Saoirse is the main character, a six-year-old girl with her own challenges to overcome. It shows on Sunday at 2pm and all tickets are €4, available from Woodbine Books and Eventbrite.

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Very good turnout for Pitch & Putt open day

Images: St Bridget's P&P.

There was a very good attendance yesterday for the Brigid 1500 Open Day at St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club, writes Joe Mallon. We were delighted with the turnout.

Those who came to play were presented with commemorative pens, St Brigid pins, and special score cards.

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Brigid 1500 Open Day at Pitch & Putt Club

We would like to remind everyone of our big day on Monday 5 February, writes Joe Mallon of St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club. To celebrate Brigid 1500 we will have an Open Day Scramble. 

There will be no charge to play and each participant will receive a Brigid Pin, a commemorative pen and score card. Starting from 10am and ending at 4pm, the scramble is open to all to take part, young and old, members and non-members. We will supply a limited number of clubs, balls and tees if required. 

There will be refreshments available in our clubhouse. Please join us for a fun day at St Bridget’s. Follow our social media pages for more details.

Dołącz do nas 5lutego 2024 by wziąć udział w zabawie i świętowaniu z okazji Dnia św. Brygidy i Brygidy 1500 wstęp otwarty dla wszystkich.

Bigi linn ar ar 5ü Feabhra 2024 i gcomhair Sciobadh Spraoiúil Galf Dhá Mhaide chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar Lé Fhéile Bride agus ar Brid 1500. Ar oscailt do chách.

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St Brigid at the Library

For the day that was in it, here are two drone shots of the St Brigid's Cross planting carried out during the week at the Library.

The planting was done by Kilcullen Community Action.

The images are courtesy of Shane O'Connor.

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Brigid displays in Heritage Centre

A St Brigid's cloak display made by the boys and girls of the Kilcullen Community Childcare Centre has been put on display in the Heritage Centre, writes Brian Byrne.

The cloak features a montage of pictures created by the children, all aged between 3 and 12 years. Spread on the floor it is lit up at night so it can be seen through the glass doors of the Heritage Centre.

It joins the knitted tapestry made by the Suas Knitting Group which is also on display there, and which can be seen in the window from the laneway.

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Suas group produce knitted Brigid tapestry

This knitted Brigid-themed tapestry produced by members of the Suas Knitting Group will be on display in the Heritage Centre through the holiday weekend.

After that it is hoped it will be shown in a number of local retail business windows, before touring the playgroup and the local schools.

It was put together by Mary, Bonnie and Lorraine in the group.

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Lions congratulated for 'vibrant' Brigid 1500 film choices

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer with members of the Kilcullen Lions cinema committee.

Kilcullen Lions Club were congratulated last evening for celebrating the St Brigid year with a film season, writes Brian Byrne. Speaking in her role as Leas-Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, at the opening of the month-long season, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer said they are quite unique with this initiative. 

"I think it's phenomenal, because there is a lot going on about Brigid at the moment, but mostly through song and music and other events, so I think you have definitely struck a special chord here."

She congratulated the cinema committee for their choices in a 'vibrant' calendar of screenings, capturing among other things the compassion and the resilience attributed to the saint. "We all have different Brigids in our heads, and what she means to us is different for everybody, and I think that the films you have here touch on all the themes, whether it is resilience, hope, inclusion, or social justice. They all celebrate the legacy of Brigid." The councillor concluded by congratulating the Lions for the overall Kilcullen Bridge Cinema initiative in association with Access Cinema, which has been a great success.   

Herself was the first of five films being presented by Kilcullen Bridge Cinema through to the end of February. Welcoming all to the evening, Kilcullen Lions President Gordon Glynn expressed his own appreciation to the cinema committee for their work. "You have all driven this on and we have received a lot of recognition for bringing the cinema back to life."

The next film, on Tuesday coming 6 February, is Róise & Frank, a charming Irish-language comedy-drama, set in the scenic Ring Gaeltacht area in Co Waterford. It tells the story of the recently widowed Róise, who believes that a stray dog embodies the spirit of her late husband Frank. It is a delicately told story of grief, loss and remembering. 

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