G-Amhran and have a go
CULTURE Minister Catherine Martin has backed a campaign to get more people to learn the Irish National Anthem, Amhran na bhFiann.
Ms Martin was speaking after the launch of a competition for schoolchildren encouraging them to learn the anthem, as Gaeilge.
She pointed out how Irish language movies such as An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl), which has earned 14 Oscar nods, has put “a spotlight” our native tongue.
Ms Martin said: “I am very proud of our National Anthem.
“It’s good to see people putting a spotlight on it, just like An Cailín Ciúin will do with our language at the Oscars, at every international sporting event to see and hear our native tongue being sung, so anything that will being more people singing it, I’d encourage it.”
The Abair Linn Publishing competition for school children invites all primary schools in Ireland from 3rd class to 6th class to learn the anthem and send a video of their performance ahead of St Patrick’s Day.
She goes by many names, including Lady of the Irish. She is the patron saint of poets, scholars, midwives, new-borns, dairymaids, blacksmiths and many more.
She was responsible for founding the first convent in Ireland in Co Westmeath. The fifth century saint was said to perform healing miracles and was renowned for helping those in need.
Cross
Born in Faughart, Kildare, St. Brigid has close associations with pre-Christian Ireland, and pagan and Celtic traditions.
We’ve always paid tribute to her on February 1, traditionally by making a St Brigid’s cross made from rushes. The cross — her emblem — is supposed to protect homes from fire and hunger wherever it is displayed.
Historically, her feast day is linked with fertility and marks the start of spring.
But 2023 is finally Brigid’s year, 1,500 years after her death.
Here, key women from Irish life tell why they’re celebrating her enduring influence, and how she continues to inspire.
Rockabilly queen Imelda May was one of the leading figures to champion the campaign to make Lá Fhéile Bríde a public holiday.
She was involved with the Brigit 2022 initiative — the festival to celebrate women — last year, where she performed.
Imelda (48) from Dublin’s Liberties, describes St Brigid as: “ancient goddess, a woman of wisdom, and our matron saint”.
“She was the protector of children, saviour of poor, symbol for smiths, and worshipped by poets,” Imelda adds.
“Inspiring descendants past and
“She wanted power not for power’s sake, but to empower others. Brigid’s legacy is that she is for everybody, whether it is the spiritual or the Celtic tradition.
“It is the first holiday honouring a woman. Not before time!”
Best-selling novelist Cathy (56), said: “The Brigid I’m interested in the pre-Christian Brigid, who was so adored by the people that Christianity had to adopt her. It was easier to rebrand the goddess than to ban people from worshipping her.
“The ancient, pre-Christian Brigid was a powerful ancient Irish triple-goddess with three parts to her; she was a smith, a healer, and an inspiration to poets. She was also known to protect domestic animals. The original multi-tasking woman!
Rebirth
“Her feast day is also Imbolc, the first day of spring, and the traditional time of rebirth of the earth, so it’s no surprise that she’s considered a goddess of healing and childbirth.
“I love the stories of the ancient world of Ireland and even though there are many versions of Brigid, and nobody knows which one is the true one, I really like the image of the strong female Irish goddesses who were treated with as much respect as the males.
“St Brigid is a feminist heroine to me.”
The Irish broadcaster and television personality said that St Brigid was