Brigid 1500

The enduring story of Ireland’s iconic matron saint will be celebrated with the Brigid 1500: ‘Louth Birthplace of Brigid’ programme of events unveiled by Louth County Council to mark Brigid 1500 commemorations in Louth.

From festivals to live theatre performances, illuminated visual displays, exhibitions, craft workshops and dedicated school projects, the wee county will be home to a series of unique events taking place in early 2024 to mark the 1,500th anniversary of ‘St. Brigid’s’ passing.

With the townland of Faughart in north Louth long being held as the birthplace of Brigid, the local celebrations will be especially significant in fostering tangible links to the past, and creating a cultural and meaningful legacy that is reflective of contemporary Louth.

The programme will commence with the launch of the Brigid 1500 Arts Exhibition which aims to capture the remarkable life story of one of the country’s best known saints. It will feature original art pieces from the ‘Artist In the Community’ project and a newly designed St. Brigid’s Cloak by the students of St. Brigid’s School, Ard Easmuinn.

Dundalk town centre is set to be illuminated with a spectacular lighting show celebrating ‘Brigid of Faughart’ as a beacon of light connecting the past to the present, illuminating her legacy and transcending her story into the future!

A series of talks and lectures will take place, covering a range of informative topics around Brigid. Local expert Dolores Whelan will be working with Women’s Spirit Ireland and Dr Mary Condren to curate a number of talks.  These talks will take place in the Oriel Centre and further details of speakers and topics will be released over the coming weeks.

Louth Library Service in conjunction with Louth County Council Arts Office are delighted to announce the return of the Brigid workshops that took place between May and July 2023 as part of the Brigid Cloak Tour.  St. Brigid’s Cross making workshops for local schools will also be held in Dundalk Library.

A new live theatre performance event, which will re-tell the story of St. Brigid from her birth and childhood in Faughart, to her death in Kildare has been specially commissioned for the Brigid 1500 celebrations. The event will take place in An Táin Arts Centre on February 1st and 2nd, 2024.

The team at ‘Candlelit Tales’ have created a unique performance to commemorate Brigid.  Booking for this event will be opening towards the end of the year.

The programme will also feature the ‘St. Brigid Of Ireland’ exhibition in the County Museum, which aims to capture the remarkable life story of one of the country’s best known saints.  The exhibition will highlight Brigid’s roots in both pagan and Christian traditions, and will explore her diverse interests including dairy farming, beekeeping, the creative arts, and her work with mothers and children.

A number of associated events are also being held during the ‘Brigid1500’ commemorations including the Brigid of Faughart Festival 2024 – ‘A celebration of Brigid, Goddess and Saint,’ which is taking place in Faughart, Dundalk and Ravensdale. For more information please see www.brigidoffaughart.ie

Faughart Community Group will host a candlelit procession for all religions and none to celebrate the life of St. Brigid, the inspirational woman who achieved extraordinary things in her lifetime. 

Please click on the links below for details of the full Programme of Events.

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Bríd 1500: Áit bhreithe Lú Bhríd

Brigid 1500: Louth Birthplace of Brigid

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