SHAMROCK SHAKE-UP... Hol could soon exceed Paddy’s Day
ST BRIGID’S Day celebrations
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began with illuminations of landmarks across Ireland.
The spectacular Festival of Light across Ireland, held by Herstory, illuminated iconic landmarks with beautiful art of St Brigid and women from all walks of life.
Festivities began on Friday in Galway with a light show in honour of Brigid.
Buildings were ★
lit up with stunning portraits by local artists at Lynch’s Castle, St. Nicholas Church, Galway City Museum and Pálás Cinema.
The light show travelled to the National Famine Museum in Roscommon on Saturday and a new Imbolc exhibition featuring wonderful art by contemporary local women artists opened there.
Last night, the ★
Festival of Light was in St Brigid’s native Kildare, with the Potato Market Naas, Maynooth Castle and Athy Library lit up. Melanie Lynch, Founder of Herstory, said: “I’m a big fan of both the Goddess and Saint Brigid.
“The Goddess Brigid is a reawakening of ancient Ireland.
“We love the Saint as a true representation of Christianity.”
ST BRIGID’S bank holiday could become as popular as St Patrick’s Day, the owner of an events agency has claimed.
Paul Davis, who runs Davis Events Agency, believes it is a “unique opportunity” and has “massive potential” for growth.
The inaugural February bank holiday, which is the first to be named after a woman, will take place next Monday combining St Brigid’s Day and the traditional start of spring.
Paul, who is organising a wide range of events over the long weekend, said: “On a business level it’s more important than ever for employers to work on their organisations’ gender balance, and engaging with this holiday in a meaningful way gives them the chance to show they’re taking it seriously.
“Secondly, the whole issue of employee retention is uppermost in the minds of many business leaders we meet.
“Finding a way to reward employees after the long dark days of January and celebrate the incoming spring can go a long way towards boosting staff morale.” He continued: “St Brigid’s Day has the potential to tap into the changing sentiment around women’s contribution to the economy and society.”
Work
The Government also confirmed a number of events over the long weekend which includes exhibitions at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Museum celebrating the work of seminal Irish women artists and pioneers.
The National Museum of Ireland and Collins Barracks will present Bonnets, Bandoliers, and Ballot Papers which will give an insight into the changing role of women. Events are also planned in Galway, Kerry, Louth, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, and Kildare.