St Brigid’s Day: 10 things to see and do this bank holiday weekend

Celebrate Ireland’s newest national holiday centered on the goddess and saint

Brigid: Spirit of Kildare festival. Photograph: Julien Behal
Brigid: Spirit of Kildare festival. Photograph: Julien Behal

Dublin

Brigit 2025: Dublin city Celebrating Women

Various venues, Friday Jan 31st – Monday Feb 3rd

The fourth edition of Brigit: Dublin city Celebrating Women returns this Friday. More than 100 thematic events will take place across the city, offering a celebration of women’s contributions to culture, society and history.

On Sunday from 3:30pm this year’s Brigit parade will commence at the top of Capel Street, with an eclectic procession featuring walkers, roller skaters, Brigits on bikes, dancers and more. More information here

Brigit 2025 Imbolc Fair

Meeting House Square, Monday 12-4.30pm

Taking over Meeting House Square in Dublin for a third year, the Imbolc Fair returns from 12-4:30pm. Enjoy music from DJ Louise Bruton, grab a coffee and a tasty treat from Bahay, make a festive flower crown with Flowerpop, and learn about the art of blacksmithing with 9 Irons forge. More information here

Brigit x Seanchoíche

Pepper Canister Church, Saturday, 7-9.30pm

This special event will honour the legacy of the Celtic goddess Brigit – one of Ireland’s most beloved and powerful female figures – and celebrating the creativity, strength and resilience of women throughout history and today.

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Stories on the night will focus around Brigit’s multifaceted legacy, covering a variety of themes including Wisdom, Nature, Rebellion and Healing, and will feature an uplifting blend of spoken word, live music, poetry and personal anecdotes including a few special guest speakers.

Special guests include multidisciplinary artist Pippa Moloney, poet and performer from Dublin Natalya O’Flaherty, singer-songwriter Farah Elle and Limerick activist Natasha O’Brien. More information here

Brigit: Boundless & Radical: Live Screenprinting with Damn Fine Print

Meeting House Square, Monday, 12-4.30pm

Roll up your sleeves and try your hand at screen printing. Choose from two designs by Jill & Gill specially commissioned for Brigit 2024 and 2025 entitled Brigit: Boundless Radical I & II – and let the experts from Damn Fine Print studio show you how to create your very own vibrant piece of art you can take home and proudly display on your wall. Free, first come, first served. More information here

Kildare

Brigid 2025: Spirit of Kildare

Brigid Spirit of Kildare. Photograph: Julien Behal
Brigid Spirit of Kildare. Photograph: Julien Behal

Kildare’s celebration of St Brigid takes place over the bank holiday weekend and beyond, and will commemorate St Brigid through the theme Her Spirit, Our Story. The programme includes several special St Brigid’s day concerts and events in collaboration with Hot Press which will honour the life of Brigid. More information here

Brigid’s Day Gathering at the Curragh

The Curragh Racecourse, Co Kildare, Saturday, 7pm

Taking place on February 1st at 7pm, this free public concert will take place on St Brigid’s Day, celebrating the Spirit of St Brigid, with some of Ireland’s most essential women artists – Sharon Shannon, Lyra, Irish Women in Harmony and more. More information here

Cork

Goddess Brigid Workshop

Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, Sunday, 2-6pm, €80/€40

Find your inner goddess in this Goddess Brigid Workshop, which is all about healing and growth, leaning into the concept of Imbolc and new beginnings. Led by Lewis Barfoot, the day will incorporate dancing, chanting, movement and something called a lamenting ceremony, inspired by the tradition of keening. But when all that’s done, you get to chill out with a cup of tea. It’s taking place in the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork on Sunday February 2nd.

Donegal

Féile na mBan

Various venues, Bundoran, until Monday

Up in Bundoran, Féile na mBan returns for its third year, with a weekend dedicated to the celebration of women. There are art and poetry receptions, an open mic night, cocktail hour and a series of talks on topics such as Grace O’Malley, Ireland’s pirate queen. There will be knitting, printing and art workshops, or you can head along to the craft market in the Bundoran Community Centre to pick up something that’s handmade locally. There are DJ sets and live music nights, too.

Kerry

Biddy’s Day

Various venues, Killorglin, until Sunday

Brigid’s Day goes by many names, and in Killorglin you’ll find the unique traditions of the Kerry-specific Biddy’s Day. There’s a strong focus on craft and tradition at the Biddy’s Day Festival, where you’ll see Biddy groups in straw hats holding Brídeóg dolls as they parade through the town with lanterns and flaming torches.

Nationwide

Brigid’s cross making

St Reginald’s Tower, Waterford, Saturday, 11am, 12.15pm & 2pm; National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Sunday, 12pm & 2pm and Monday, 12pm

Come and see the technique behind making the traditional Brigid’s cross with step-by-step guidance, using fresh rushes. Workshops are taking place Sunday from 12–12.30pm and 2-2.30pm and Monday from 2-2.30pm in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. There is also a workshop taking place in Waterford’s St Reginald’s Tower. They are running three workshops with limited spaces, so booking is essential. Book your preferred time by calling 051-304220 or e-mailing reginaldstower@opw.ie. Workshop times: 11am– 12pm, 12.15-1.15pm and 2-3pm. More information here and here.

Jennifer Cosgrove

Jennifer Cosgrove

Jennifer Cosgrove is an Irish Times journalist