Press Releases
St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare Celebrates the Spirit of Brigid
St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare will host a number of events to mark St Brigid’s Day (1st Feb) and the wider Brigid, Spirit of Kildare Festival, which is centred around Ireland’s newest Bank Holiday and follows on from the success of the Brigid 1500 programme in 2024.
On Sunday 2nd February, 3.00pm, the annual Patronal Festival will take place in the cathedral. This year’s preacher is the former Dean of Kildare, Rev Robert Townley.
The service will also feature new music from ‘The Birr Mass’, which was written by organist and composer Peter Whyte to mark the 50th anniversary of the Birr Choral Society. One of Peter’s compositions, ‘Brigid, the Exalted One’, will also be sung in the service, having premiered at the Cathedral’s 800th anniversary celebrations in 2023. The Kildare Cathedral Choir will lead the singing.
Later on Sunday 2nd at 8.00pm, there will be a concert entitled, ‘Written In The Soul: An Evening of Song’, in the cathedral organised by Hot Press Magazine. It will feature a range of celebrated Irish female musicians, including Cathy Jordan, Róisín O, Loah, Eimear Quinn and Muireann Bradley.
The cathedral will be open to visitors from Wednesday 29th January to Wednesday 5th February (except Sunday 2nd February), from 10.30am to 5.00pm.
Commenting on the festivities, the Dean of Kildare, Very Rev Isobel Jackson said, “We are delighted to warmly welcome visitors to St Brigid’s Cathedral from all over the world and around the country this Brigid’s Tide, to share with them its beauty and its history. Our prayer is that those who hear the story of St Brigid who pointed the way to Christ, will leave spiritually refreshed”.
On Saturday 1st February, Lá Fhéile Bríde, at 9.45am, a new mural entitled, ‘Saint Brigid’s flame’, will be launched by Dean Isobel Jackson and Fr Adrian Carbery from St Brigid’s Parish Church in Kildare town. The mural was painted at the entrance to the cathedral on the gable wall of Firecastle café, by the renowned street artist, Mister Copy, with calligraphy from local artist, Josephine Hardiman.
Following the mural launch, at 10.00am, Newbridge Gospel Choir will launch their new single, ‘Song for Brigid (Cloak of Green)’ by Laura Hill in the cathedral.
At midday, Peace Ambassadors from local schools will lead a Pause for Peace in the cathedral, which will be live–streamed around the world.
On Friday 31st January, at 11.00am, there will also be a special local schools concert in the cathedral.
The theme of this year’s Brigid, Spirit of Kildare festival, is “Her Spirit, Our Story”. With a diverse line–up of events, from festivals and concerts to art commissions, workshops, and thought–provoking talks, Spirit of Kildare aims to keep St. Brigid’s story alive in a meaningful and rich way.
For further information please see http://www.stbrigidscathedral.com/