St. Brigid of Kildare

10 years ago today, Solas Bhríde Centre and Hermitages Officially Opened.

“The the people who will use the centre in the future I am sure will find comfort and solace in these environs. May your hearts continue strong, may your lives be long and fruitful, may your most generous and courageous visions come to pass.”

Fiona O’Loughlin (Lord Mayor Of Kildare 2015

LAUNCH OF FÉILE BHRÍDE 2025

launch of the 32nd Annual Féile Bhríde 2025
Sr. Phil O’Shea, Solas Bhride, Siobhan Keogh KTCS, Mayor Kevin Duffy, Minister of State, Martin Heydon, Aine Mangan Into Kildare, Councillor Noel Heavy, Dean Isobel Jackson, St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Geraldine Moore, Solas Bhride, Sr. Rita Minehan, Solas Bhride, John Hayes, KTCS, Sr. Theresa Kilmurray, Brigidine Leadership Team

Venue:  Solas Bhríde Centre, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare

JANUARY 31ST– FEBRUARY 8TH 2025

Imagining a future in the footsteps of Brigid.

Many people gathered at Solas Bhríde for the launch of the 32nd Annual Féile Bhríde.
While 2024 was a special year as we commemorated the 1500th anniversary of the death of St. Brigid, Geraldine Moore of Solas Bhride said: “We are delighted to present a varied and interesting programme of events which continues to highlight the life and legacy of St. Brigid. Many national and international visitors are expected to visit Kildare Town during the Féile.  A packed program will focus on the many attributes of St Brigid through dance, music, poetry, walks, talks, crafts, meditation, and discussion. There are also a number of online events for people who cannot attend in person. The full programme of events can be viewed on Féile Events Page

Pause for Peace

At the launch Rita Minehan spoke of the importance of the Pause for Peace initiative. “At 12 noon on February 1st, people will be invited to Pause for Peace for 1 minute.  The global Pause for Peace Movement was launched in Kildare in 2023 to mark the new national holiday in honour of St. Brigid. The people of Kildare call on people worldwide to pause for 1 minutes silence for peace in the world at 12 noon local time on St. Brigid’s Day. The Pause for Peace is gaining widespread support both nationally and internationally. In 2024 the initiative to involve students as Peace Ambassadors was developed by Kildare Town Community School and we are pleased that students continue to be involved in 2025.

Launch of the 32nd Annual Féile Bhríde 2
Rita Minehan
Launch of the 32nd Annual Féile Bhríde 3
Phil O Shea

Phil O’Shea said that the exciting growth and success of the Féile has its source in the energy and efforts of the community from which it sprang. She went on to say “We are delighted once again to network with Afri, the Education Centre, the Heritage Centre and Kildare Town Library in presenting an exciting Féile Bríde Programme for 2025.”

She also thanked the Solas Bhríde team, Cairde BhrÍde and the Festival Committee for their creativity, hard work and commitment in the development of the Féile Programme, and for overseeing the events.

The Féile Progamme of events is made possible by the sponsorship of Kildare County Council through their Festival Grant Scheme and the Brigidine Sisters Mission and Ministry Fund.

In her conclusion MC Geraldine Moore said, “We hope you enjoy participating in some of the very exciting events of the Féile. Solas Bhríde will hold other events throughout 2025 as we celebrate 10 years at the centre on the Tully Road. You will find notice of these events on the Solas Bhríde website.”

Geraldine Moore
John Hayes, Amanda Rice Kildare Town Community School with Aine Mangan, Into Kildare
Tom McCutcheon Kildare Town Heritage Centre
Councillor Kevin Duffy, Mayor of County Kildare
Sioban Keogh , Solas Bhride Board, Joe Murray Afri, Theresa McAuliffe Cairde Bhride, Terry Hennessy Cairde Bhride, Katie Martin CEO Afri, Sr. Phil O’Shea and Sr. Rita Minehan Solas Bhríde
Mary Linehan Cairde Bhride, Annette McCormack Cairde Bhride, Sr. Phil O’Shea Solas Bhride, Dr. Kate Moore, Terry Hennessy Cairde Bhride, Katie Martin Afri, Sr. Rita Minehan Solas Bhride, Theresa McAuliffe Cairde Bhride
Solas Bhride Team with Paula O’Brien, and Katie Lane, Spirit of Brigid, Kildare County Council
Sr. Phil O’Shea, Solas Bhride, Aine Mangan Into Kildare, Sr. Rita Minehan Solas Bhride
Brigidine Sisters, with Katie Martin, Joe Murray, Afri
Time for refreshements.

For information on all events and to book online contact Solas Bhride Centre, Tully Road, Kildare town: www.solasbhride.ie  email: info@solasbhride.ie or phone 045 522890.

For information on Afri Conference contact: admin@afri.ie or www.afri.ie

For information on Kildare Heritage Centre events contact: Kildare Heritage, email:  info@kildareheritage.com or phone 045 530672

For information on Kildare Education Centre www.eckildare.ie or phone 045530200

For information on Kildare Town Library kildarelib@kildsrecoco.ie or phone 045520235

For further information on Brigid 1500 events www.brgid1500.ie

Afri Justice & Peace Conference: The Light of Peace

Hosted by:       Afri – Action from Ireland
Venue:             Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre
Time:               10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Admission:      €35.00   Concession: €25.00
Full details of the Conference available on www.afri.ie
Booking is essential: admin@afri.ie or phone 01 8384204

 

Full details of the Conference available on www.afri.ie

“When you walk, arrive with every step. That is walking meditation. There’s nothing else to it.” – Thích Nhat Hnh – How to Walk
Presenters: Solas Bhríde Team
Time: 11 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.
Venue: Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre
Admission: €5.00 (Sponsored event – incl tea/coffee)

Bring warm clothes as part of the event is walking outdoors in the environs of Solas Bhríde,


Register Now:

Ticket type:


Ticket Qty:

Per Ticket Price:






Quantity:

Total




Presenter:        Christine Hughes AOIFA
Venue:            Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre
Time:              2.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
Admission:      €10.00 (Sponsored event)(incl of tea/coffee

“When one flower blooms, spring awakens everywhere.” – John O’Donohue.

Christine Hughes is a member of The Association of Irish Floral Artists and a member of her local Flower clubs in Naas and Maynooth. Christine is an AOIFA National Teacher, National Demonstrator, AOIFA Judge and speaker. Christine passion and enthusiasm for floral art design is infectious.

All participants will enjoy Christine’s storytelling as she informs and teaches during her demonstrations.

Upon a bank I sat, a child made seer
of one small primrose flowering in my mind.
Better than wealth it is, I said, to find
One small page of Truth’s manuscript made clear.
Extract from Primrose by Patrick Kavanagh


Sorry, this event is expired and no longer available.

Exploring what light archaeological evidence can shed on people, the economy and life in Brigid’s period.

“Accounts of St. Brigid in the lives written in the 7th century and later centuries portray not only a remarkable, holy woman, but one who seems grounded in the real world, taking part in household chores and interacting with people of all grades and with animals.  But to what degree do these writings reflect the 5th century to early 6th century of Brigid’s world or that of Cogitosus and the other writers a century or more later?  This lecture explores what light archaeological evidence can shed on people, the economy and life in Brigid’s period.” Dr. Sharon Greene www.brigid1500.ie – Brigid’s Worlds

About the Author

Dr. Sharon Greene, Editor of Archaeology Ireland. Sharon graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Celtic Studies and a Master’s in Archaeology.  She has worked on various projects and has held a number of research roles in the UCD School of Archaeology. Her research interests include early medieval settlement and medieval walled towns.  Her doctoral research was on the settlement on Mayo’s islands during the early medieval period and she has published on aspects of this as well as early medieval metalwork, local history, and even the archaeology of beekeeping. research is

Presenters: Dr. Sharon Greene
Time: 7.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m
Venue: Kildare Education Centre
Admission: FREE (Sponsored by Kildare Education Centre)

Education Support Centre, Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachas Cill Dara, Friary Road, Kildare Town, R51 KN66
Enquiries to KESC: Ph 045 530200 or email: oce@eckildare.ie

In person and online event

St. Brigid was a woman of action.  When reading the legends we discover that her actions sprang from a deep awareness of the Divine presence in everyone and everything.  This awareness allowed her to respond with insight, creativity and compassion to the many situations that confronted her.

Through the telling of the legends of St. Brigid we will explore Brigid’s awareness of the Divine in everything and how this underpinned her response and her actions.
Presenters: Solas Bhríde Team
Time: 4.00 p.m – 5.00 p.m.
Venue: Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre
Admission: €5.00
In person and online event.

 

 

Inhouse Booking


Sorry, this event is expired and no longer available.

Online Booking


Sorry, this event is expired and no longer available.

Kate Moore shares her deep-seated love of nature and St. Brigid through walking the Ox Way. A performance with poetry, story-making and music.
Presenter: Kate Moore, International composer and musician.
Time: 7.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m
Venue: Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre
Admission: €10.00 (incl tea/coffee) Sponsored Event

Don’t miss this unique experience.

Kate Moore is an Australian composer currently based in the Netherlands. Kate was born in Oxfordshire, England. She is a renowned international composer of new music. Her major works include Sacred Environment, and Lux Aeterna (Bosch Requiem) Her compositions have been performed in Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, and by The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and at numerous festivals throughout Europe. Kate is also the recipient of numerous awards for her compositions.

n more recent times she set out on a pilgrimage which led her through the Netherlands, England, Wales and Ireland. The inspiration for her pilgrimage was St. Brigid and the ox – a story she will recall in her presentation. “I literally hear music in the sounds that birds make or in the wind blowing through the trees. My work is closely linked to the earth, to minerals, plants, animals, and their mutual interaction.”

Kate goes on to say: “I’m very interested in the connection music has with the environment, but also the connection to memory. I’m creating a piece as I go. But the product is not the goal. The experience is the goal. Music is a method to remember. By the end I’ll be able to recount the journey through music.”

We are delighted to have Kate staying in Solas Bhride. She hopes that while walking in the footsteps of St. Brigid she will find inspiration for new compositions.


Sorry, this event is expired and no longer available.

“Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances.”
— Maya Angelou

Join us as we celebrate Brigid’s story and values through circle dance.
Presenters: Terry Hennessy, Betty White
Venue: Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre
Time: 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Admission: €15.00 (incl tea/coee)
All welcome. No previous experience needed.

Join Terry and Betty for an enriching experience of circle dance.  They will lead you in simple dance steps to beautiful music. It is a type of dance where anyone can join in. It is inclusive, enjoyable, and FUN.

Sacred dance helps bring about harmony between body, mind and spirit and creates a real sense of belonging and a feeling of togetherness. Dancing in a circle to beautiful music helps to develop a sense of community and offers moments of stillness, peace and healing for ourselves, our families, and our planet.


Sorry, this event is expired and no longer available.

The walk will include some ancient and recent historical sites on the Curragh Plains.

Please dress weather appropriate and wear suitable footwear for soft/wet ground underfoot. Moderate level of difficulty.

Situated between the towns of Kildare and Newbridge, the Curragh, an extensive tract of soft, springy grassland, was known as Brigid’s Pastures. The Curragh is unique in terms of its archaeological, environmental, historical and cultural heritage. One of the most popular and imaginative legends associated with St. Brigid is how her cloak spread over the Curragh as she procured land for her abbey from the King of Leinster.
Join us for an afternoon ramble and experience a taste of the rich archaeological, environmental, historical and cultural heritage of this unique gem in our Irish landscape.

Presenters: Solas Bhride Team
Time: 2.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Venue: Assemble at Solas Bhríde Centre at 2 p.m.
Admission: €10.00 (incl. tea/coee)
Bus will bring participants to The Curragh

Please dress weather appropriate and wear suitable footwear for soft/wet ground underfoot.


Sorry, this event is expired and no longer available.