Solas Bhríde Launches Rekindling the Flame
Solas Bhride Launches Rekindling the Flame Eileen Dunne, former newsreader with RTE news, speaking at the launch of Rekindling the Flame [Sassy_Social_Share] Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre is pleased to announce the release of the revised edition of Rekindling the Flame – A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare by Rita Minehan CSB. Rekindling the Flame is a beautiful reflective collection of story, legend, poems, and meditations – the perfect companion for your pilgrim journey in Kildare Town. Speaking at the launch, the author Rita Minehan, a Brigidine Sister based in Kildare said, ‘the book has evolved from the personal experience of over thirty years of accompanying, talking and sharing stories with pilgrims and visitors who come to Solas Bhride from all over the world’. Rita went on to say that it is her hope that ‘it will help those who read the book and those who walk the pilgrim path as outlined in the book, to connect with Brigid at a deeper level, that it will both nourish and challenge them on life’s journey’ Launching the book was Eileen Dunne, former newsreader with RTE news. At the launch Eileen Dunne commended the book as a companion guide whether physically or spiritually walking in the footsteps of St Brigid. Eileen said that having viewed the RTE documentary on St Brigid earlier this year, a visit to Kildare and to Solas Bhride was on her bucket list, but little did she think that this would be happen so soon. Eileen believed that the book was timely as interest in Brigid will only grow in the coming months. Cathy O Connor CSB a member of the Brigidine Central Leadership Team congratulated Rita, saying that through the book we are skilfully led on a spiritual pilgrimage. Rita Minehan and Eileen Dunne Rekindling the Flame is available from Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre, Kildare Town, Kildare Heritage Centre and bookstores locally. You can also purchase here through the Solas Bhride website – simply click the button below to go to our new online shop. Buy Now! Photographs by Fran McCormack
The 30th Anniversary Of Féile Bríde : Darkness, Dawning, Light
The 30th Anniversary Of Féile Bríde : Darkness, Dawning, Light
Rekindling the Flame, a Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare by Rita Minehan
Revised edition of Rekindling the Flame, a Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare by Rita Minehan Rekindling the Flame – A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare was first published in 1999. The intention then, as now, was to provide a guide to pilgrims to Kildare ‘this sacred place, this ground revered by all who honour the name of Brigid’. The book begins with a brief introduction to St. Brigid and her foundation and later the Brigidine foundation. The guide to pilgrimage then begins leading the pilgrim from the Market square to St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Here time is taken to observe the detail of the stained glass windows, before moving outside to the High Cross, Round Tower and St. Brigid’s Fire Temple to reflect their significance. The Pilgrim continues to make their way to St Brigid’s parish church and on to Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre and St. Brigid’s well. Rita Minehan csb Since the first edition of the book was published in 1999, Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre on Tully road was opened in 2015. This new chapter provides the visitor with an overview of the vision of Solas Bhríde and invites them to visit in particular the Brigid room that holds the Brigid Flame. The spark, taken from the Brigid flame, relit in 1993 is tended here and burns as a beacon of hope, justice, and peace for the world. This visit also includes strolling in the grounds to take in St. Brigid’s sculpture, the Labyrinth, and the mini Oak grove. A more detailed history of development of Solas Bhríde Spirituality can be found at the end of the book. The visitor is presented with many opportunities and practices to pause and reflect on St. Brigid, a ‘Woman for our time’ and also on their own inner journey. If unable to come to Kildare, with guidance from this book, it is possible to take this pilgrimage in one’s own place, at one’s own time. Buy Now! Title Rekindling the Flame: A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare Author Rita Minehan Contributor Solas Bhríde Community Publisher Solas Bhríde Community, 2022 ISBN 9781739145507 Length 80 pages
Commemorating the Lighting of the Flame of Hope, Justice and Peace in 1993
Phil O Shea, Solas Bhride, Adi Roche and Fintan Brett Mayor Of County Kildare hold aloft the Flame of Brigid Feb 4th 2023 Adi Roche, Joe Murray of Afri, Fintan Brett Mayor Of County Kildare and Rita Minahan Solas Bhride Adi Roche, Joe Murray of Afri, Fintan Brett Mayor Of County Kildare and Rita Minahan Solas Bhride and Luka Bloom Luka Bloom performing on the Square in Kildare Town Adi Roche holds the Flame of Brigid aloft Joe Murray of Afri Adi Roche holds the Flame of Brigid aloft Adi Roche delivers speach at Solas Bhride [Sassy_Social_Share]
LAUNCH OF FÉILE BHRÍDE 2023 BRIGID: FLAME OF JUSTICE AND PEACE Kildare Town – January 31st to February7th.
LAUNCH OF FÉILE BHRÍDE 2023 William Redmond (Director), James Kavanagh (Director), Aine Mangan (CEO Into Kildare ), Rita Minahan (Director), Phil O’Shea (Director), Sonya Kavanagh (Chief Executive of Kildare County Council) , Theresa Kilmurray (Director) & David Mongey (Chair Into Kildare) Brigid: Flame of Justice & Peace is the overarching theme of the 30th Annual Féile Bríde which takes place in Kildare Town from Tuesday 31st January to Tuesday 7th February 2023. Solas Bhride have developed a weeklong program of celebration to include music, dance, weaving, reflection, poetry, and discussion. The Féile commences on Tuesday, January 31st with the annual pilgrimage of quiet reflection and ritual at St. Brigid’s well beginning at the Japanese Garden car park. On St. Brigid’s day there will be an opportunity to weave a St. Brigid’s cross, and an invitation to participate in a workshop that revisits some of the traditions and customs associated with St. Brigid. A new initiative recently launched jointly by Solas Bhride & Into Kildare is the Pause for Peace movement where Kildare is calling for a global minute’s silence at 12 noon on St Brigid’s day. This initiative sets the scene for the new bank holiday in honour of St Brigid. It reflects the spiritual underpinning to the holiday and is consonant with the value of peace Brigid stood for in her time. Aine Mangan, Kildare Failte and Sonya Kavanagh CEO Kildare County Council. Josephine Hardiman, Artist, Mario Corrigan, Senior Executive Librarian at Kildare County Council, Phil O Shea, Solas Bhride, Cllr. Mark Stafford. Kildare Education Support Centre is delighted to continue its long history of supporting Féile Bríde. Its Director, Siobhan Kavanagh stated “Saint Brigid’s connections with Education, Heritage and spirituality are deeply rooted in Kildare. Her Compassion and Care for the Earth are an example which can inspire far beyond the county borders. We look forward to the Annual Celtic Lecture on 2nd February ‘Awakening: Brigid: Woman, Life Legacy’.” A core componant of Féile Bríde is the Afri Justice and Peace Conference which will be held on Saturday, February 4th. Joe Murray, Afri Director stated “We in Afri are looking forward to our 30th Féile Bríde event in Kildare on February 4th. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with the Brigidine Sisters and Cáirde Bríde over the past three decades. We’ve had some memorable moments in the course of the thirty years – extraordinary speakers and activists intermixed with wonderful music, poetry and theatre. Brigid’s message of peace and care for the Planet have always been central themes and this will continue and intensify as more and more countries – including Ireland – seem to be abandoning the pursuit of peace and opting instead for the drumbeats of war. Phil O Shea, Solas Bhride, Siobhan Keogh, KTCS, Joe Murray, Afri. Emma Strain, Kildare Heritage Centre Cairde Bhride members To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Féile and of the lighting of the Brigid Flame of Hope, Justice & Peace, all are welcome to a special event which will be held in the Market Square in Kildare Town on Saturday 4th February at 10 am with Adi Roche and Luka Bloom as special guests. On the first Bank Holiday in honour of St.Brigid, February 6th Solas Bhríde is hosting 2 events: A Miscellany of Memories & Music at 11 am and in the afternoon, Jim Kavanagh, will host a Ramble on St Brigid’s pastures, the Curragh at 2.30 pm. Throughout the month February 2023, the Brigid pages from The Book of Kildare will be exhibited at Solas Bhríde and the new, illuminated pages will be on display at Kildare Town Library. The Féile has a week long programme of creative events which will cater for all ages and many interests. It will be a festival inclusive of a range of free events presented by Kildare Town Library commencing Saturday Janaury 28th with St. Brigid’s Cross workshops with Beth Murphy and finishing on Friday evening February 3rd with a lecture and poetry reading with Martin Dyar. Vital Signs: Poems of Illness and Healing will be accompanied by musicians Treasa Harkin and Mairéad Carroll Rita Minehan, Mary Minehan, Phil O Shea and Geraldine Moore, Solas Bhride For information on all events and to book online contact Solas Bhride Centre, Tully Road, Kildare town:www.solasbhride.ie email: info@solasbhride.ie or phone 045 522890. For information on Afri Conference contact: admin@afri.ie or www.afri.ie For information on Kildare Heritage Centre events contact: Kildare Heritage, email: info@kildareheritage.com or phone 045 530672 For information on Kildare Education Centre www.eckildare.ie or phone 045530200 For information on Kildare Town Library kildarelib@kildsrecoco.ie or phone 045520235
Co. Kildare Calls for a Pause for Peace on St. Brigid’s Day February 1st 2023
Into Kildare, the Tourism Board for County Kildare and Solas Bhríde Spirituality Centre & Hermitages have jointly launched a global ‘Pause for Peace’ movement. Pause for Peace will see the residents of County Kildare (Ireland) calling on people all around the world to stop for a minute’s silence at 12.00 noon (local time) on St Brigid’s day, the 1st of February 2023. Sr. Rita Minehan of Solas Bhríde said, “This movement for a Pause for Peace sets the scene for marking the new national holiday in honour of St Brigid on February 6th. It reflects a spiritual underpinning to the holiday and is consonant with the value of peace which Brigid stood for in her time.” She went on the say, “By pausing for peace, we send out a message that we actively oppose warfare and the proliferation of arms, which wreak havoc on human beings as well as on the natural world. This movement aims to awaken and build a spirit of global solidarity in our search for peace. It would be a fitting tribute to Saint Brigid and to all our ancestors if it were marked with a Pause for Peace on her feast-day, February 1st each year. We are delighted to have three ambassadors for Pause for Peace, they are Ewan Morris, Lily Tyrrell Kenny, Ben Ryan, senior students from Kildare Town Community School. Already the news has started to spread around the world about the Pause for Peace campaign through the Irish diaspora living abroad, through Tourism Ireland and through the Solas Bhride network who are located all over the world. New Zealand will be first to start the Pause for Peace movement when they will have a minute’s silence for peace at12.00 noon, their time on Saint Brigid’s Day, 1st of February. From New Zealand to New York from Brisbane to Barcelona a minutes silence for peace will take place all around the globe and will form part of the rolling Pause for Peace movement.
Féile Bríde-the beginning
Appropriately, the seed of Afri’s involvement with Féile Bríde was an act of generosity by five young Derry boys, who learned how to make St. Brigid Crosses, sold them and gave the money to Afri for our work in tackling hunger, poverty, war and militarisation. Inspired by this action, the St. Brigid Peace Cross School’s Campaign was launched in Derry by Sean MacBride in 1983, resulting in thousands of young people learning the craft and continuing the tradition of making the St. Brigid Cross and learning about issues of injustice, inequality, war and peace, while doing so. In 1993, to mark ten years of the St. Brigid Peace Cross Campaign, we wanted to hold a conference in Kildare. Fortuitously, the Brigidine Sisters had just returned to Kildare and we joined with them and with many others to organise a memorable event entitled Brigid Prophetess, Earthwoman and Peacemaker. What was intended to be a once off event became instead, a series continuing for three decades during which we’ve had many memorable experiences, heard many extraordinary speakers and met many exceptional people. Brigid’s message of peace and care for the Planet has always been a central theme. This message is even more urgent now as the horror of wars in Yemen, Ethiopia, Syria and Ukraine (to name but a few) wreak havoc on people and our precious planet. And sadly, the Irish government, instead of being a voice calling for de-escalation and disarmament is jumping on the band-wagon, becoming involved in aggressive military alliances and even developing its own weapons industry. A recent example was the government’s hosting of an ‘arms fair’ to introduce small businesses and Third Level Institutions to companies involved in the weapons industry – this meeting had the absurd title ‘Building the Eco System’!
Coffee Morning
Through its coffee morning on October 13th Solas Bhride was delighted to support in some small way the work of Teach Tearmainn. This amazing organisation provides free and confidential support services to women and children in Kildare and West Wicklow who are or have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse..
Cosmic Walk
On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning last September, Cáirde Bhríde members travelled by bus from Solas Bhríde, Kildare to Cabragh Wetlands, near Holy Cross, Co. Tipperary. It was exciting especially since it was our first outing since before COVID. After a pleasant journey we arrived and were greeted by Fr. Michael Long and volunteer Anne and treated to a welcome cup of tea and cake. Fr. Michael talked to us about the Cabragh Wetlands Trust and how it developed. It was set up in the early 90’s to promote awareness of and value for a fenland that was in danger, in danger from drainage and even landfill dumping !!!! The land originally belonged to the Thurles Sugar Factory. The off-flow from this factory contributed greatly to the existence of the wetlands, where there are no less than 15 habitats, including ponds, reed swamps, hedgerows, streams and wild flower meadows, teeming today with insects, bumble bees, birds, grasses, frogs etc. The wetlands are an environmental treasure, free from interference by mankind and instead remaining supervised solely by Mother Nature. Fr. Michael also guided us on the “Cosmic Walk”, the “Story of the Universe”, our “ Creation Story” , depicted beautifully by sculptures in stone and wood., starting 13.8 Billion years ago with “The Great Flaring Forth” up to the present day.
Celebrating 30 years in Kildare Town
The Brigidine sisters came to Kildare town on August 22nd 1992. On the afternoon of August 22nd 2022 an invitation was issued to all the Brigidine sisters to gather at Solas Bhride for afternoon tea. We had a lovely evening of remembering and sharing stories of the journey of the past 30 years. Solas Bhride centre was an initiative of the Brigidine Sisters and they can be extremely proud of the achievements of the past 30 years. On September 15th another celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of Solas Bhride took place. The Centre welcomed old friends and new faces for a ‘cuppa tea’ and chat during the course of a special day. Exhibitions of old posters, programmes nestled beside displays of photograph albums which were lovingly and carefully assembled in chronological order. Images of the 357 people who created Brigids Crosses as part of the Guinness World record were a centrepoint of great conversation amd reminiscence. We remembered dear friends of Solas Bhride who have passed away over the course of three decades. The Centre became a repository of memories as the stories behind the images were re-told with affection, gratitude and hope. Mary Linehan
