Solas Bhríde launches fantastic Féile Bhríde festival
The festival was launched in the Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre in Kildare Town last Friday
KILDARE Town’s annual Féile Bhríde festival is kicking off once again at the very end of the month, with community events that embody the spirit of our county’s patron saint – in collaboration with the county-wide ‘Brigid: Spirit of Kildare’ festival (see story below).
al representatives, sponsors and the wider community to welcome a wide range of festivities that embody St Brigid’s message of peace, kindness and care.
Geraldine Moore of Solas Bhríde welcomed all at the launch and said a few words to mark the event, noting the festival’s 33rd birthday this year, and drawing on the importance of St Brigid in today’s world:
“Brigid is remembered through the ages as a woman of compassionate justice, a renowned peace maker, and as a woman of the land.” She announced the theme of this year’s festival: ‘Brigid: A Voice for the Ages’.
Centre co-ordinator Phil O’Shea then spoke about St Brigid, the 5th Century woman who founded her monastery in Kildare, and her powerful legacy which lives on. She thanked all contributors to the festival, including Kildare Town Community School, Solas Bhríde staff and all of their sponsors.
Other speakers at the event included Katie Martin from AFRI, a Dublin-based NGO focused on peace and global justice, and Tom McCutcheon, manager of Kildare Town Tourist Office and Heritage Centre.
This year’s féile will begin with a free event on Saturday 31 January, with St Brigid cross weaving from 10am until 12 noon at Solas Bhríde, followed by a pilgrimage at 6pm, meeting from the Japanese Gardens’ car park.
On St Brigid’s Day, Sunday 1 February at 12noon, organisers invite people from around the world to stop and pause for one minute’s silence for global peace, and invite the community to Solas Bhríde to witness the planting of a peace pole, a physical monument to peace all across the world.
Later that evening at 8pm, a special event will take place at the centre, with local Kildare singer Inni-K, whose music draws from sean-nós and traditional Irish music. Tickets can be purchased online on Eventbrite.
On Monday 2 February, two fantastic events will take place. First, from 11am to 12 noon ‘Under Brigid’s Mantle’ will take place, with plenty of storytelling, poetry and music featuring author of Nancy Fitzgerald. At 2pm, guests are invited to ‘step back in time” with a walk through The Curragh exploring its history. A bus will depart from Solas Bhride Centre at 2.15pm.
On Tuesday 3 February, at 10.30am, attendees are then invited to a ‘Sacred Circle Dance’ with facilitators Terry Hennessy and Betty White. Tickets can be purchased for €15.
In the evening at 7.30pm until 8.15pm, a talk on the exploration of hospitality, inspired by the values of St Brigid, will take place online and in person.
The festival continues on Wednesday 4 February with a meditative walk at Solas Bhríde Centre. At 7.30pm, lecturer on Irish folklore and ethnology Dr Bairbre Ní Fhloinn invites attendees to the free annual Celtic Lecture at Kildare Education Support Centre.
Thursday 5 February features a talk on ‘St Brigid’s Spring: A Floral Journey’ with presenter Elizabeth Murray from AOIFA from 2.30pm until 4.30pm.
That evening from 6.30pm to 8pm, Kildare Writers Group will gather for a free event in Kildare Town Library: an evening of readings from original works dedicated to St Brigid.
On Saturday 7 February, a Justice and Peace Conference will take place at the centre, hosted by AFRI (Action from Ireland) from 10am until 4pm, priced at €35, with full details on the conference available on www.afri.ie.
The festival will come to a close on Sunday 8 February, with a morning Mass at St Brigid’s Well at 10.30am, with attendees invited to park at Solas Bhríde.
For more information on the events and tickets, visit https://solasbhride.ie/feile-bride-2026.
