Brigid Fest is a celebration of Brigid’s Day, which has its origins in the Celtic festival of Imbolc. This festival symbolises the beginning of spring and honours Brigid, the Celtic goddess of crafts, learning, and fertility. In more recent times, Brigid has come to represent wisdom and strength, and it is these attributes that we aim to celebrate with a whole month of engaging activities.
Súil an Droichead : January 30th-February 20th, FREE
Launching at 7pm on Thursday, January the 30th
Join us for the launch of our St. Brigid’s Celebrations with Súil an Droichead – A collaborative exhibition of paintings and poetry by twin siblings, Denis Kelly and Mary Pooley. This is an exhibition inspired by the Brigid 1500 celebrations that invites the viewer to look deeper, past the obvious, into the eye of the bridge where everything cannot be taken at face value. It is also an homage to the memory of their mother Bridget. The exhibition consists of seven paintings inspired by the St Brigid’s cross motif, where these paintings play with perceptions of reality, while complimenting and responding to the poetry on display. No booking is required.
St Brigid and the Brideog Doll : Saturday 1st February – St Brigid’s Day, 2.00pm – 4.00pm, FREE
Try your hand at creating your own unique Brideog Doll with mixed-media artist, Kay O’Donoghue. Under Kay’s guidance, participants will get to work with various materials to create their doll. This includes pieces of material which, according to tradition, will be left out on the eve of St. Brigid’s Day to be blessed by the saint as she passes through the night. The Brideog doll carries on a tradition that stretches thousands of years, creating an effigy of Brigid that would be placed in boats and homes to offer protection. All materials will be supplied but participants are welcome to bring their own too. ( You can leave them outside on Friday evening, 31st January to be blessed!). Limited capacity, booking required.
Brigid, Gobnait & Sheela-na-Gig with Edel Meade : Saturday 1st February – St Brigid’s Day, 7.30pm, €18/€15
Celebrate St. Brigid’s Day with an unforgettable evening of songs, stories and reflections from award-winning performing artist and Tipperary woman, Edel Meade. Noted for her stunning voice and mesmerising live performances, Edel will present a rich tapestry of music and anecdotes to honour Brigid, Gobnait and Sheela-na-gig, celebrating the Divine Feminine and reflecting on how ancient wisdom can inform our present and future. This unique and very special event will appeal to anyone interested in Irish music, Irish folklore and mythology, women’s stories, the Irish language and Celtic spirituality.
Sheela na Gig Clay Craft : Saturday 8th February, 2.00pm – 4.00pm, FREE
! Parental Advisory ! – Please be aware that the themes explored in this workshop may not be appropriate for young children and teenagers.
Join Artist Kay O’Donoghue, and explore our concepts of strength, fertility, sexuality, and female empowerment through the medium of clay. Clay itself is a very sensory and tactile material and has been associated with fertility and the power of the divine for centuries. Although there is a lot of mystery as to the origin of the Sheela na Gig figures, which adorn many ancient buildings around Ireland and other parts of Europe, there are many hypotheses on their meaning. Such as symbols of protection, fertility, a warning against lust, and most recently, as a Female Goddess empowering the woman and her sexuality. Limited capacity, booking required.
St Gobnait Fake Stained Glass : Saturday 15th February, 2.00pm – 4.00pm, FREE
Taking inspiration from the art of Harry Clarke whilst paying homage to St Gobnait, participants will get to create their very own stained glass inspired artwork. Gobnait and her religious house purportedly kept beehives not only for honey and wax, but also for protection against attacks from unwanted invaders. One legend tells us that thieves raided Ballyvourney in an attempt to steal cattle, when Gobnait held a beehive in her hands and prayed for her community’s safety. In answer to her prayer, bees miraculously swarmed out of the hive and attacked the thieves, chasing them away. This miracle story inspired the renowned stained glass artist Harry Clarke, who designed a window of Gobnait for the Honan Chapel at University College Cork that was installed in 1916.
Participants will create a fake stained glass image on glass with Gobnait’s beloved bees as the central theme. Please bring your own inexpensive picture frame either 5×7 0r 8×10. Frames can be purchased in Eurogiant or Mr. Price for 2/3 euro. Limited capacity, booking required.
