HERSTORY FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
Following Herstory’s successful 3 year campaign, St. Brigid’s Day is Ireland’s new national holiday - the first named in honour of a woman: Brigid, our matron Saint and Celtic Goddess and a celebration of all mná. Traditionally Brigid’s Day is Imbolc, the first day of Spring, the return of the light and the ancient Celtic festival of the goddess Brigid.
Herstory leads the national St. Brigid’s Day celebrations with a spectacular Herstory Festival of Light, illuminating iconic landmarks with beautiful art of women. Light Shows take place in Galway this Friday 27th January; Roscommon on Saturday on 28th January; and in Kildare 31st January & Ist February. The illuminations will be animated with live performances by fire-dancers, musicians and storytellers. All events are free and open to the public.
The illuminations feature art from Herstory’s open call, inviting artists to be inspired by Brigid - goddess and saint - and the modern women who share her passions as environmentalist, feminist, Pride icon, healer, pioneer, human rights activist, goddess of the arts, alchemist and wisdom weaver. For more information on the full light festival programme and more events see www.herstory.ie and www.brigidsday.org
GALWAY CITY
Friday 27th January 2023
5.30 - 7pm: Lynch’s Castle
7.30 - 8.45pm: St. Nicholas’ Church
9.00 -10pm: Galway City Museum
10.30pm - 12.00am: Pálás Cinema
The Galway light show is funded by Galway City Council Creative Ireland Programme, with curation by Herstory in partnership with Galway City Arts Office.
ROSCOMMON
Saturday 28th January
Venue: National Famine Museum, Strokestown House
3pm: Imbolc Visual Arts Exhibition opening
4 - 5.30pm: Herstory Salon
5.30 - 9pm: Herstory Light Show
6.30pm: Shadow Puppet show
This event is one of many in Roscommon’s new Brigid’s Awakening Festival on 28th Jan - 5th Feb. Roscommon is going for the world record for the biggest St. Brigid’s cross. Funded by Roscommon County Council Council Creative Ireland Programme.
KILDARE
St. Brigid’s Eve, 31st January
5.30 - 10pm: Potato Market Naas
5.30 - 6.30pm: Wonderful Barn, Leixlip
7.30 - 8.30pm: Maynooth Castle
10pm - 11.30pm: Athy Library
St. Brigid’s Day, 1st February
5.30 - 9pm: Potato Market Naas
The Herstory Light Show in Kildare is part of the fantastic Brigid 1500 Festival, funded by Kildare County Council Council Creative Ireland Programme.
HERSELF @ GORT, CO GALWAY
Saturday 4th February
Gort Arts Group presents a magic mini Brigid’s festival including Herself, a large-scale public projection project. The project illuminates those women who work quietly in the background, nurturing, protecting, growing, healing, listening and making our world a better place to be.
Herstory’s new dedicated website for all things Brigid is now live - www.brigidsday.org - packed with events, school artivism project, articles, art and lots of ideas on how the nation can celebrate Brigid and mná na hÉireann.