Ireland: Festival of St Brigid of Kildare

Solas Bhride “light/flame of Brigid” .A double celebration will honour St Brigid on her feast day on Sunday, 1 February as Solas Bhríde Centre and Hermitages - Faith, Hope and Love – opens officially at the start of this year’s week-long annual Féile Bríde festival. Its theme is Light: A New Awakening.

The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Denis Nulty along with Church of Ireland representatives, Brigidine sisters, Cairde Bhride, Associates of Brigidines and the people of Kildare and beyond will gather for the official opening, including the singer Luka Bloom.

A nine foot bronze statue of Brigid by the renowned Canadian sculptor, Timothy Schmalz, stands in the grounds, a gift from a Parish Priest and his family in Illinois, USA.

“We are so delighted, so happy and so grateful for this place, so blessed because it is such a beautiful place for the unfolding of the legacy of Brigid in Kildare,” said Sisters Mary Minehan, Phil O’Shea and Rita Minehan.

A wide range of spiritual exercises will be available at the centre ranging from the story of Brigid presented in creative and life-giving ways to pilgrimages to St Brigid’s Well, Cathedral and the Curragh plains. There are three hermitages – Creideamh, Dóchas agus Grá,” There are meeting rooms within the centre and a reflective walk around the grounds with a labyrinth.

The official opening of the centre will take place on 30 January with Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin and Eurovision winner, Eimear Quinn, who was present at the launch of the initial business plan for the centre.

The centre will be a hive of activity as many of the ‘feile’ events will be held there from 30 January to Sunday 8 February, 2015. Other events will be held in venues around Kildare town and at the famous St Brigid’s Well. The opening Brigid’s Eve Ritual (31 January) will be held at the well with quiet reflection, song and prayer to celebrate on the eve of springtime.
Participants are urged to bring a light or lantern and suitable clothing and footwear for this outdoor evening event. Talks and speakers range from: Brigid, Bees and Brewing by the Boyle sisters in Kildare town, to the Annual Celtic Heritage Lecture The Unfolding Universe – Glimpses into Mystery with Nellie McLoghlin rsm, to the Afri Justice and Peace Conference at Solas Bhride. The week of talks, walks, prayer, music and poetry will end with on Sunday 8th February with a morning open air Mass at St Brigid’s Well.

For all details and tickets see: www.solasbhride.ie