2021 HERSTORY LIGHT SHOW
2021 HErstory light show
In these dark times the light must shine all the brighter! To celebrate Brigid’s Day the Herstory Light Show by Dodeca illuminated iconic landmarks across Ireland on Sunday 31st January and Monday 1st February in honour of the Mother & Baby Home victims; Corona heroines and heroes, Black Lives Matter, Women who have Arrived, and Brigids of the World.
Galway City Museum, St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare; Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea; Athlone Castle and Belvedere House in Westmeath and Birr Castle in Offaly illuminated to lift Ireland’s spirits and celebrate the return of the light. Click here to view the press release.
MAKING BRIGID’S DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY
The first of February marks the beginning of Spring and the Celtic festival of Imbolc, once honoured as the feast of the goddess. Herstory is calling on the Irish public and our diaspora to sign the petition to make Brigid’s Day a national holiday and celebrate Ireland’s triple goddess and matron Saint Brigid equally to our world-renowned patron Saint Patrick.
SPARKING BRIGID’S HEALING LIGHT
From the shadows into the light, iconic landmarks illuminated in honour of the mothers and children who suffered in the Mother & Baby Homes; featuring portraits of the survivors by Karen Morgan, powerful haiku poems by Laura Murphy, and thought-provoking art from the Stay with Me Show curated by activist Rachael Keogh and journalist Alison O’ Reilly. Filmmaker Peter Martin captures this pilgrimage of light in Solas, a hauntingly beautiful film.
A specially commissioned photographic series entitled Sovereignty was created by photographer Myriam Riand and conceptual artist Áine O’ Brien, reclaiming and reimagining the mother archetype that has been historically dictated and defined by church and state. Now Mná na hÉireann are reclaiming our sovereignty, sexuality and spirituality.
THE 2021 THEMES
This year we ran an open call and asked the public to nominate your heroines and see them honoured in spectacular illuminations on landmark buildings over Brigid’s weekend. There are four timely themes: Corona Heroes, Black Lives Matter, Women Who Have Arrived and Brigids of the World. Herstory is every woman’s story. This is not a competition. All women will be honoured equally.
1. CORONA HEROES
This theme honours the heroes of the pandemic: women and men who have battled the COVID-19 virus and the everyday heroes who have played a role in these challenging times including domestic violence services, teachers, farmers, shopkeepers, cleaners, bus-drivers, journalists, nurses, doctors, mothers, and grandmothers.
2. BLACK LIVES MATTER
Herstory gives the platform to the black community to celebrate historic and modern black heroines in Ireland and across the world. This is an opportunity to share your stories, challenges and insights on how we can co-create an inclusive, multi-cultural Ireland together.
3. WOMEN WHO HAVE ARRIVED
It’s time to reimagine the crone archetype for a modern, progressive world. In pre-Christian Ireland the crone was the most powerful of the three Celtic life archetypes and honoured as the time when a woman came into her true power and sovereignty. In contrast, today women over 50 are almost invisible in popular culture, overshadowed by an irrational fixation on youth and the maiden archetype. This theme honours the women who have arrived - our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers who have journeying through life and now embody all three archetypes: maiden, mother and crone. Artists are also welcome to explore the potential for a new archetype that captures the key transition phase of menopause inspired by Niamh Daly, Founder of Yinstinct.
4. BRIGIDS OF THE WORLD
Truth be told, Brigid was a pan-European goddess long before she was a saint. A unifying force across Europe, she was celebrated from Spain to Turkey. As an archetype she can be adopted by any culture around the world. This open call invites artists - students, amateurs and professionals - to capture the modern multi-cultural Brigid in all her fiery glory. What are the issues close to her heart? How would she wield her fire to challenge corruption and injustice? As a master of the arts, what wisdom and insights would she share through her creativity?
You can follow the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtags #Herstory #BrigidsDay from 6pm on Sunday 31st January until midnight on Monday 1st February.
A heartfelt thanks to the Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation for Ireland for funding this spectacular light show and lifting Ireland's spirits as we celebrate the start of Spring and the return of the light. And a very special thanks to Marquee AV for sponsoring the powerful projector that put the spotlight on an important cause.
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