St Brigid's Day
Celebrating the creativity of women
The day has long symbolised hope, renewal and the feminine.
Since 2018, Irish Embassies and Consulates across the world have been marking the day by celebrating the creativity of women, through a broad programme of events.
From Wellington to Warsaw, Sydney to Santiago, London to Lisbon, Ireland’s diplomatic network, in partnership with local communities is celebrating the remarkable contribution women have made – and continue to make - across the world.
Crafting A Conversation
This St Brigid’s Day, we brought together four dynamic creatives for a conversation on how female voices and perspectives contribute uniquely to the creative landscape in Ireland in 2024.
The discussion also touches on the historical and cultural significance of St Brigid and gives an insight into the importance of community, storytelling and creativity in Irish culture and society.
St Brigid's Day 2024
Common Threads
St Brigid’s cloak is central to the story of how she founded her church and became one of Ireland’s patron saints.
Textile artists from around the world were invited to contribute unique individual artworks for St Brigid's Day 2023, which were then assembled by the Irish Patchwork Society.
St Brigid's Day 2023
"I am Brigid"
We asked a number of Irish women who are trailblazers in their fields for their thoughts on St Brigid’s Day and what it should encapsulate in 2023 and into the future.
St Brigid's Day 2022
To celebrate St. Brigid’s Day 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the ITMA – Irish Traditional Music Archive, collaborated on three short online films.
Three poems for Brigid
At Bridget's Well
At Bridget’s Well is written by poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa and read by Osaro Azams. Music by Syn, Full Moon, Gash Collective.
i mbolc
Written by Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe and read by Caitríona Ennis. Music by Dreamcycles - Abrasive Routes, Queeste.
Old biddy talk
Old Biddy Talk is written by Paula Meehan and read by Ruth McCabe. Music by Dowry, In É.
Celtic festival of Imbolc
Like many other feast days in the Irish calendar, Brigid predates Christianity. Her roots lie in the Celtic festival of Imbolc, the feast of the goddess Brigid, celebrated at least five millennia ago.
Healing, fire, and poetry
In old Irish, Imbolc means "in the belly", a reference to lambing and the renewal spring promises. Brigid was a triple goddess – of healing, fire, and poetry – and the saint who took her name, born in 450 AD, carried some of those same associations.
The patron saint of poets and midwives, by legend, she maintained a sacred fire by the monastery she founded in Kildare. Alongside St Patrick and St Columcille, she is one of Ireland’s three patron saints.
Anniversary of St Brigid
In 2024, Ireland will mark the 1,500th anniversary of St Brigid’s passing with a special programme of events nationwide.