Celebrate Saint Brigid’s Day with Ireland's cultural institutions

Entering its second year of celebrations, the St. Brigid’s Day/Imbolc bank holiday aims to acknowledge and honour St. Brigid herself, and the central and unique role of women in today’s society, as well as in our history and culture.

Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport,  is encouraging members of the public to participate in the Saint Brigid’s Day program of cultural events taking place nationwide across the National Cultural Institutions to mark the bank holiday.

“Saint Brigid’s Day, and the newly associated bank holiday, is a unique and rare opportunity for us to celebrate not only our heritage, but also our present and future," said O'Donovan, in a statement released on January 30.

"As Antoine Ó Raifteirí once wrote, ‘Anois teacht an Earraigh, beidh an lá dúl chun síneadh’. After a long winter, it is time to welcome the brighter days the spring brings and look forward with optimism to the future.

“It is with this in mind that I am proud to share the Saint Brigid’s Day programme of cultural events taking place across the country, and I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to attend and participate in the events.”

With roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, which marked the arrival of spring, St Brigid’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate growth, renewal and light. In Celtic mythology, Brigid was a triple goddess – of healing, fire, and of poetry. The Christian saint who took her name, born in 450 AD, carried some of those same associations as the patron saint of poets and midwives. As such, this bank holiday carries a dual opportunity to recognise the role of women through our arts and cultural heritage.

Ireland's National Cultural Institutions have organized an exciting program of events over the long weekend, complemented by community activities nationwide.

These include:

In the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks `

Family Straw Weaving Workshop with the Armagh Rhymers 3rd February

Spring Spectacular Show with the Armagh Rhymers 3rd February

Public Tours on Saturday 1st February

Public Tours on Sunday 2nd February

In the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park

Public Tour - Museum, House and Gardens 1st February

In the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare St.

Online Lecture: Reinterpreting the Shrine of St. Brigid’s Shoe- 31st January

The Saints, Scholars, and Scribes of Ireland! Early Medieval Handling Workshop 1st February

The Saints and Scholars of Ireland Guided Tour 1st February

In the National Library of Ireland, Kildare St.

Uncloaking Brigid An Introduction to St. Brigid in Irish Tradition and Modern Media 1st February

Elsewhere, the Chester Beatty Library will celebrate St. Brigid through a poetry and art workshop.

As well as through a family friendly film screening: Wolfwalkers.

Meanwhile, in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Creative Ireland invites you to St. Brigid’s Festival at Úna Bhán – A Celebration for All.

Limerick’s Hunt Museum will host storytelling sessions in the Captain’s Room.

Clondalkin, in Dublin, will host their annual Féile Bhríde.

And Kildare, the home of the Saint, will have a full slate of activities.