Turning The Sod
To make a long story very short the sod for the new centre was turned in February in 2013 by Rita Minehan, csb. The construction begun in 2013 continued apace until it was ready for opening in 2015.
Guinness World Record
Another oasis during a difficult time was the Gathering Event in 2013 and the achievement of a Guinness World Record for Solas Bhride by gathering 357 people from near and far to mindfully weave a St. Brigid’s cross in St. Brigid’s Parish church at the same time. It was another historic day for Kildare and was the climax of a week long programme of events for the Gathering for which we got a flagship grant from KCC and IPB. Again it was the linking with and cooperation of the lcoal community which made this award possible.
A Jolt into Action
2012 was probably the darkest period of our journey towards a new centre. Two occurances in late 2012 were catalysts in giving us the courage to move forward with construction. The Design Team agreed to sign up to a vision and value statement drawn up by Solas Bhride – all had to pledge to work in right relationship with each other as the spirit in which the centre was built was as important to Solas Bhride as the centre itself. The second catalyst was the offer of a gift of a 9 foot green bronze sculpture of St. Brigid from Chicago, Illnois, USA. The donor was unaware that we were about to construct a centre. Here was Brigid ready to arrive and we had not even got started with our building. That jolted us into action.
Dalai Lama
Meanwhile the mission continued in Solas Bhride. Solas Bhride was honoured to host the visit of the Dalai Lama to Kildare town in 2011. He addressed over 1,000 people in the Market Square and was presented with the Brigid Flame in recognition of his work for peace and reconciliation worldwide. He engaged with local religious leaders of all faiths in meditation in St. Brigid’s Cathedral and addressed over 700 people on the theme of compassion and healing in St. Brigid’s Church. This would not have been possible without networking with almost every organisation in the town. Ni neart go cur le cheile. It was a historic day for Kildare town.
A Long and Winding Road
It was a long and winding road from 2007 to 2015 as we had to cope with a global economic downturn and the financial crisis in Ireland while constructing a new centre.
Bicentenary of the Brigidine Congregation
2007 marked the Bicentenary of the Brigidine Congregation. Solas Bhride was honoured to host an international pilgrimage to Kildare for sisters, co-workers, family and friends to mark the occasion. They were offered the hospitality associated with St. Brigid by the people of Kildare. 2007 was also a landmark year for Solas Bhride. The re-lighting of the Brigid flame in 1993 caught the imagination of people all over the world. The growing numbers of pilgrims and visitors to Dara Park created an urgent need for a larger centre. When we observed the impact the story of St. Brigid had on pilgrims and its capacity to engage them to work for social and ecological justice, we began to explore a suitable a site. We succeeded in securing our dream site for a new Solas Bhride Centre in our bicentenary year.
The Brigid Flame
We take a leap forward to 2006 when Kildare County Council commissioned a sculpture to house the Brigid Flame in the Market Square in Kildare town. President Mary McAleese presided at the lighting of the flame, which was lit from the flame in Solas Bhride. When Mary and Phil presented her with the flame she held it aloft and presented it to the people of Ireland and beyond as a symbol of hope, justice and peace for our world.
Christlight
Solas Bhride and Cairde Bhride were involved in the preparation and celebration of the Christlight on the Curragh Plain in the year 2000, when over 20,000 people gathered for an ecumenical celebration. Another highlight for the millennium year was the visit of the Conference of Religious of Ireland to St. Brigid’s monastic site in Kildare which some scholars say was the beginning of monastic life in Ireland. They took a spark from the Brigid flame and send it out in relays to dioceses and communities across the country.
Rekindling the Flame
Rekindling the Flame – a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Brigid of Kildare by Rita Minehan, csb was published by Solas Bhride in 1990. Plans are in progress to update the publication and relaunch it again in 2022.
Thomas Berry
As Solas Bhride developed, we too grew more conscious of the interconnectedness of all creation and the need to care for planet earth and the whole community of life. A visit to Solas Bhride and St. Brigid’s Well by renowned cultural historian, author and eco scholar, Thomas Berry, influenced our thinking and our mode of responding to local needs. He was invited to plant an oak sapling at St. Brigid’s Garden well to mark his visit.
