Happy St Brigid's Day to all our readers!
Lá Féile Bríde sona daoibh go leír!
Come celebrate Kildare's patron saint in Kildare Town.
On St. Brigid's Day today, there is a Demonstration of Weaving St Brigid's Crosses in Solas Bhride Centre from 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
There is also Musical Interlude and Cross Weaving Demonstrations from 2.30 p.m.
Féile Bríde Concert featuring the "The Music of Spring" performed Patrick Hyland takes place at 8pm.
St Brigid's Cathedral is open today until 5pm and the Round Tower is also open for climbing.
There is also an exhibition of the Book of Kildare upstairs in the Kildare Heritage Centre for February.
Drop in between 9:30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Some new stock has just come into the Heritage Centre in Market Square for St. Brigid's Day.
Customers can browse and buy cards and prints from The Book of Kildare from Josephine Hardiman, Artist & Calligrapher and Brigid Prints from local artist Inkydinkydee.
The 2018 Feile Bhríde festival continues for the next ten days.
Today's activities include Weaving St. Brigid’s Crosses at Solas Bhríde Centre, Tully Road.
Some of the traditions and customs associated with St Brigid will also be revisited at Solas Bhride Centre from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
St Brigid's Trail
Meanwhile, a new tourist trail dedicated to St Brigid, has been launched by the County Kildare Tourism Board.
Launched to coincide with Féile Bríde, St Brigid’s Trail takes in some of Kildare Town’s best-known landmarks creating a north-south trail which will be a major attraction for visitors to the town.
Mayor Martin Miley, Kildare tourism development manager Aine Mangan and Sr Rita from Solas Bhríde. Picture Michael Donnelly.
St Brigid’s Trail was launched in conjunction with Ireland's Ancient East and will connect with the larger Sacred Ireland tourism trail in the future.
“Kildare Town is one of the most important ecclesiastical centres in Ireland, which we highlight with this new tourist trail,” said Kildare Tourism Development Manager Aine Mangan.
“St Brigid established her church and monastery close to an oak grove in Kildare, giving the town its name – Cill Dara, church of the oak.”
Unusually, it was a monastery for men and women. The legend surrounding the King of Leinster’s grant of land for the project has it that he agreed to give her only what her cloak would cover.
When she laid down her cloak, it spread out to encompass the whole of the Curragh Plains.
Starting at the Kildare Heritage Centre on Market Square, visitors can watch an audio-visual presentation on St Brigid and her connection to the town.
After the Heritage Centre, the trail then takes in St Brigid’s Cathedral before heading south toward St Brigid’s Church which was opened by Daniel O’Connell in 1833.
Visitors then move on to the Solas Bhríde Centre – a purpose-built centre dedicated to the spiritual legacy of St. Brigid and its relevance for our time.
The centre, which is the home of the Brigidine Sisters, is a key stop on the trail.
It hosts an annual week-long St Brigid’s festival, Féile Bríde, which commenced on the eve of St. Brigid’s Day, February 1st.
The final spot on the tour is the ancient St Brigid’s Well on Tully Road, where visitors can while away a peaceful hour.
Tourists will be guided around the trail by a new brochure and map which were launched this week by Kildare Tourism, Mayor Martin Miley and Sr Rita from Solas Bhríde.
“The St Brigid’s Trail will interest visitors from both home and abroad who want to learn more about Ireland’s female patron saint,” said Aine Mangan.
“The trail can be completed in approximately two hours, allowing visitors plenty of time to explore everything the town has to offer afterwards.”
More information on St Brigid’s trail can be found at