Embrace the spirit of St Brigid at an Irish festival
St Brigid’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, a day to honor women and remember the saint’s message of inclusion and harmony.
Referred to as ‘Ireland’s matron saint’, St Brigid is a beloved figure in Irish Christian history known for her work with the poor and marginalized, and also revered as a trailblazing feminist and environmentalist.
Born on February 1st, 452, in Faughart, County Louth. St. Brigid is celebrated for her compassion, miracles, and role in founding monasteries across Ireland. Her legacy blends Christian and Celtic traditions, with a lasting influence throughout the country.
Visitors can explore St. Brigid’s legacy at the National Shrine in Faughart, where sites like St. Brigid’s Well and healing stones are located. Dundalk honors her with a mural by artist Friz, depicting her as both a goddess and a saint.
Louth comes alive with events around St. Brigid’s Day, including the Northern Lights Light Show in Dundalk, blending modern technology with history. On February 2nd, the Faughart Candlelit Procession offers a tribute to Brigid with drummers, robed figures, and Gregorian chants.
For a more hands-on experience, the Brigid Symbols and Customs Workshop at An Táin Arts Centre on February 1st teaches the art of weaving Brigid’s Cross.
St Brigid founded a nunnery in County Kildare around AD 480, and the Brigid 2025 – Spirit of Kildare festival is the biggest celebration of her life and legacy on the island. Running from 24 January to 2 February, the festival presents a rich line-up of performances and cultural experiences including concerts, dance, craft demonstrations, wellness events, science shows, sports events and talks. The headline show on 1 February will feature some of Ireland’s top female artists, including Sharon Shannon and Lyra, performing at the famous Curragh racecourse.
St Brigids Cathedral – View of Alter, Co. Kildare
St Brigid’s Day, and in ancient times the Celtic festival of Imbolc, traditionally marks the beginning of spring and both continue to be celebrated in Ireland. The theme of reawakening is celebrated in Kilkenny’s St Brigid’s Music and Arts Festival (31 January to 3 February) with music, theatre and craft events.
Before Christianity reached Ireland, Brigid, a Celtic pagan goddess, was revered as one of the original goddesses of the Tuatha dé Danann, a supernatural race that is front and center in Irish mythology. The goddess of healing, fire and poetry, Brigid’s story and the story of the life of St Brigid have to some extent merged so that both are celebrated on St Brigid’s Day/Imbolc as icons of powerful women.
The Brigid’s Awakening Festival (31 January to 3 February) in County Roscommon celebrates Brigid from goddess to saint highlighting the creativity and innovation of women in Irish society, past and present, real and mythological. One of the key traditions associated with St Brigid is the weaving of a cross from rushes or straw, and the erection and illumination of the largest St Brigid’s cross in Ireland is a highlight of this festival.
In 2025, the St Brigid’s Day public holiday falls on 3 February.
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