St Brigid 1500 celebrations are already underway across Ireland. Recently we spoke with one of the event’s key organizers, Katie Lane, about what attendees can expect.
What are your own roots?
My roots lie in Kildare, where I come from a long line of inspirational Brigids. St. Brigid’s Day was always celebrated in my home growing up and I have great memories of making crosses and hanging out Brat Bhríde. I am a mum to two wonderful children, and I have been working in Kildare County Council for over seven years.
How long have you been involved with Brigid 1500?
I’ve been an integral part of the Brigid1500 project for the last 15 months. Brigid1500 is a key initiative of Kildare County Council, to deliver a program to celebrate and commemorate St Brigid. It’s been an incredible experience, working to foster community engagement and celebrate the legacy of St. Brigid.
What are your current roles & responsibilities there?
I work in a management position in the Community Department, organising and co-ordinating the Brigid 1500 program. It is a role that truly keeps me on my toes. Each day brings something new, making it an exciting and dynamic experience. This role has allowed me to work across various different areas, including event planning, marketing, media, and design. A significant part of my role is fostering collaboration with key stakeholders, artists, and community groups working to develop and deliver Brigid 1500 festival events, grant schemes, and our schools program, with lots more to come in 2024.
What are the challenges involved?
The Brigid 1500 festival program is broad, rich, and diverse comprising many strands and themes. The challenges lie in ensuring that the program that we deliver captures St. Brigid’s essence and creates a lasting impact that resonates today. Our tag line states that we will celebrate St Brigid, the woman, the life and the legacy in a broad and rich way. So, our aim is to go beyond commemoration and craft an experience that stands the test of time. Balancing faith, sustainability, arts, culture, and more requires careful planning and consideration. Our main goal is to engage communities deeply, creating a connection with the past through meaningful events. The vision is clear, we want to make Brigid 1500 inclusive, where everyone finds something to enjoy and feels a sense of belonging.
What are the rewards?
Being part of this celebratory program has been incredibly rewarding for me. I’m truly honoured to contribute to it. The entire journey has been a joy, from collaborating with stakeholders, artists, and community groups to bringing people together to celebrate and connect with the heritage of St. Brigid. It’s not just about showcasing the vibrant culture of my home county, Kildare; it’s also about actively playing a role in the collective celebration and appreciation of St. Brigid’s legacy.
What is Brigid 1500’s core mandate?
The Brigid 1500 program includes a series of events to celebrate and commemorate St. Brigid the woman, the life and the legacy, in a broad, rich way. The main aim of Brigid 1500 is to create a meaningful cultural and societal legacy that appeals to a diverse, contemporary audience. Brigid 1500 will engage communities with the story and heritage of St. Brigid, providing a tangible connection with the past through events and programs that have an ongoing meaning and relevance.
What can audiences/participants expect to experience?
Taking place from 27th January to 10th February, the program will bring together artists, performers, enthusiasts, communities, and visitors to celebrate St. Brigid in a contemporary and modern way with something for everyone, from the poignant, to the spectacular. The program includes a special St. Brigid’s day concert in collaboration with Hot Press which will take place in the Moat Theatre, St. David’s Church, and The Potato Market to honour the life of St Brigid. Artists confirmed to take part across the program include Eleanor McEvoy, Moya Brennan of Clannad, Mary Coughlan, Gemma Hayes, Una Healy, The Henry Girls, Lisa Lambe and Nell Mescal, with many more to be announced. Other program highlights will include: Mother Earth: A Day of Food and Music at The Wonderful Barn, Leixlip will feature a line-up of renowned female chefs including Majken Bech-Bailey and Chantelle Nicholson. We Shall Overcome: Songs of Social Justice and Freedom, Athy She Moved Through the Fair – An Evening of Song, St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare Light shows will be unveiled around the county at prominent locations in Clane, Newbridge, and Athy, including Naas Potato Market and the new Naas Library and Cultural Centre. Two grand fiery processional events to celebrate St Brigid will take place in the towns of Maynooth and Kildare over the bank holiday weekend.
Why is it an important event for the community there?
Brigid 1500 is an important event for the community as it brings people together to celebrate and connect with the heritage of St. Brigid in a contemporary and inclusive manner, fostering a sense of community, cultural appreciation, and societal legacy. The program is designed to appeal to a diverse, contemporary audience. The Brigid 1500 event is important for the community because it makes St. Brigid’s story and legacy relevant to today’s diverse audience by presenting it in a contemporary and modern way. This ensures that the cultural and historical significance of St. Brigid remains alive and meaningful for everyone in the community.
Celebrating St. Brigid’s Legacy
The festival aims to celebrate and commemorate St. Brigid, highlighting her life and legacy. St. Brigid is an important historical and cultural figure, and the event provides an opportunity for the community to connect with and honour her.
Community Engagement
The program is designed to bring together artists, performers, enthusiasts, communities, and visitors. This fosters a sense of community engagement and participation, allowing people from different backgrounds to come together and celebrate a shared heritage.
Cultural and Societal Legacy
Brigid 1500 has a broader goal of creating a meaningful cultural and societal legacy. By engaging communities with the story and heritage of St. Brigid, the event aims to establish a connection with the past and provide ongoing meaning and relevance for the community.
Why is St Brigid more relevant today than ever before?
Her life and legacy provide inspiration, especially for women, embodying qualities of strength and resilience relevant to the ongoing pursuit of gender equality. Her connection to nature and advocacy for Mother Earth aligns with today’s concerns about environmental sustainability. The Brigid 1500 program, led by Kildare County Council, underscores her relevance by fostering community engagement. Connecting people with their cultural roots contributes to a sense of collective identity and belonging. St. Brigid’s story also holds educational value, offering insights into Ireland’s history, culture, and heritage. In a time where preserving cultural identity is crucial, her legacy contributes to a deeper understanding of our shared past.
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