Kildare Town prepares to set World Record
The countdown has begun to the World Record challenge to set the record for the most people weaving St. Brigid’s crosses in the one place at the one time. Participants in the challenge need to be able to weave a St. Brigid’s cross. A number of workshops have been held in Kildare Town Library. Participants at the Workshop concentrate as they learn how to weave the crosses or for some revise the skill learned many years previously. The sense of achievement is evident as all proudly display their St. Brigid’s crosses. Now all are ready for Saturday, September 21st when they will join with many others in setting the record. If you would like to participate in the Record Challenge you might like to attend one of the Weaving Workshops taking place in Kildare Town during the week. Monday, September 16th: 3.00 pm in Aras Bhride (Parish Centre beside St. Brigid’s Church) Tuesday, September 17th: 2.00 pm in Aras Bhride Friday, September 20th: 3.00 pm in Aras Bhride Thursday, September 19th: 2.00 pm in Owens Cottage at the Irish National Stud (This workshop is followed by a guided tour of the Irish National Stud) Saturday, September 21st: Kildare Town Library: Between 9.30 am – 12.30 pm participants in the Record Challenge have the opportunity to brush up their weaving skills before the Big Event. Weavers are urgently needed. Register beforehand online through www.solasbhride.ie or at Solas Bhride,Kildare town or through Kildare Town Heritage Centre, Market Square, Kildare. (There is a registration fee of €5 and €3 for students) ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE ABLE TO WEAVE A ST. BRIGID CROSS. RUSHES WILL BE SUPPLIED ON THE DAY. Participants are requested to check in from 2.00 pm on Saturday, September 21st at Aras Bhride.
GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS CHALLENGE
LEARNING TO WEAVE ST. BRIGID CROSSES – WORKSHOPS Monday, September 16th at 3.00 pm Tuesday, September 17th at 2.00 pm Friday, September 20th at 3.00 pm Venue: Aras Bhride ********************************************** Thursday, September 19th at 2.00 pm Venue: Owens Cottage, Irish National Stud Following the workshop, participants will experience a Guided Tour of the Irish National Stud ************************************************************************************************* Last Minute Refresher in weaving St. Brigid crosses before Big Event Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2013 Venue: Kildare Town Library Time: Pop in anytime between 9.30am and 12.30pm All participants in the Record Challenge need to be able to weave a cross or to have attended one of the workshops in order to participate on the day. Advance registration for workshops is required and can be made through the registration page on this website or through Kildare Heritage Centre, Market Square, Kildare town.
Samhain
We invite you to join with us as we celebrate the feast of Samhain. Samhain is a festival that celebrates the mysteries of life, death and rebirth. They are at the heart of the Celtic spiritual tradition. We enter into that space between the ending of one year and the beginning of the next. It is the season that invites us, like the seeds, to embrace the darkness so that new and more abundant life will spring forth when the winter darkness is over. Samhain is a time for deep reflection, introspection, thanksgiving, stillness, and harvest. It is a time to give thanks for the blessings received as the year draws to a close and the earth prepares for its winter sleep. During this festival the veil between this world and the other world is thin so it is customary to remember family members and friends who have made this journey on earth before us.
The Gathering
St. Brigid of Kildare Gathering A Gathering Festival in Honour of St. Brigid 15 to 21 September 2013 Come to Kildare Town, Ireland this September and take part in setting a Guinness Book of Records world record in weaving St. Brigid’s crosses You are invited to come to Kildare Town this September for the St. Brigid of Kildare Gathering Festival. There will be a special welcome “Céad Míle Fáilte” to those named Brigid and those who have variations of the name. We also welcome people from around the world who have an affinity with St. Brigid through parishes, associations, churches and place names, to visitors from Ireland and overseas with an interest in Brigid and her legacy. The festival is being organised by Solas Bhríde in collaboration with a number of other Kildare based groups and is part of the overall Government supported Gathering Festival 2013. In addition to a Guinness Book of Records challenge at which we hope to involve all visitors in setting the record for the most people to weave St. Brigid’s crosses, there will be a packed programme of music and dance events in addition to walks, pilgrimages, craft demonstrations and craft workshops, each linking to Brigid and her legacy. We are just 1.5 hours drive from Dublin airport and 2 hours from Shannon airport and a range of accommodation options are listed on each of www.intokildare.ie and www.discoverireland.ie. More information on what to do in Kildare Town is available from www.destinationkildaretown.ie and also http://www.kildare.ie/kildareheritage/. You are assured of a very warm welcome in Kildare Town this September and a truly memorable experience celebrating the life of St. Brigid. Please get in touch if you have any questions and we very much hope to see you in September. Events will include: Official Opening & Celebration of St. Brigid * Guinness Book of Records Challenge * Re-enactment of the Legend of the Cloak of St. Brigid Concert in St. Brigid’s Cathedral (€) Celtic Music Recital (€) Harvest Gathering at St. Brigid’s Well Literary Event Guided Tour of the Monastic City of Kildare Walking in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare/ Pilgrimage Guided Tour of the Curragh Plains / St. Brigid Pastures Weaving of Brigid’s Cross – Craft Workshop Craft Workshop: Weaving of Brigid’s Cross Craft Participation: Weaving of Wall Hanging Craft Exhibitions Trad Music / Entertainment in local pubs * Click here for the provisional programme of events Tickets for all events other than those marked * to be booked directly with event hosts Unless marked (€) events are free of charge Events marked * are open access, no tickets or charges apply All events subject to change, additional events to be added Event listings last updated: 1 May 2013, please check latest information in July for event bookings
Brigid’s Way Pilgrimage, July 7th – July 15th
A 9 day Pilgrimage walk will take place from Brigid’s well, Faughart, County Louth to Kildare Town. The route of this 9 day pilgrimage walk will start at the annual Pattern Day at St. Brigid’s Shrine in Faughart on 7th July, 2013. It will continue from Dundalk through to Tara and then follow along the Grand Canal to Maynooth and on to Kildare. People are welcome to walk the full pilgrimage or join in on route. The promoters of the Pilgrimage, Dolores Whelan and Karen Ward invite pilgrims to join them walking in on this ancient pathway and to allow the wisdom of the majestic landscape and the inspiration of Brigid guide them: – to ponder on life’s journey – to shed what no longer serves us – to dream in a bright and soulful future So why don’t you join Dolores and Karen and walk a mile or two of Brigids Way? Full details on the route, accommodation and cost available on www.brigidsway.ie Brigid’s Way Pilgrimage – Arrival in Kildare, July 15th The 9 Day Pilgrimage from St. Brigid’s shrine in Faughart, Co. Louth to St. Brigid’s Monastic City – Kildare town, will conclude on Monday July 15th. On the final day, Monday, July 15th the pilgrimage will depart from Milltown, Co. Kildare at 10.00 a.m. to arrive in Kildare town at 12.00 noon. Itinerary for the final day of the Pilgrimage 10.00 Depart from Milltown for Kildare Town 12.00 Noon Pilgrims will be welcomed at the Market Square on their arrival in Kildare. 12.30 – 1.00 p.m. Visit to St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Round Tower and Fire Temple 1.15 Walk to St. Brigid’sWell, stopping on route to visit the site of SolasBhride Centre and Hermitages. 1.45 Gather at St. Brigid’s Healing Well – near the Japanese Gardens A short break for lunch 2.30 Pilgrimage will conclude at St. Brigid’s Well So why don’t you join the pilgrims on the final day of their pilgrimage and walk a mile or two of Brigids Way?
June 2013
Meditation 8.00 – 9.00 p.m. each Monday evening. “Come away and rest a while”. Enjoy stillness and peace while learning some practical ways to meditate. Pilgrimage Groups June 7th Cork pilgrim group June 12th Mara Freeman Group June 21st Rev. Kurt Neilson, Portland, USA Pilgrimages can be arranged on request. Groups and individuals welcome. The Gathering September 15th – September 21st. Samhain October 30th – 8.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. Winter Solstice December 21st: 8.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. Feile Bride 2014 January 31st – February 9th 2014
May 2013
May 14th Confirmation Retreat May 15th Confirmation Retreat May 16th Celtic Journeys, USA Group May 31st Colorado College, USA
