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
Looking Back 2013 – Solas Bhride enters House of Records
The Gathering was a nationwide event which took place through September 2013. One of the key events for the Brigid of Kildare Gathering celebration was a Guinness Book of Records attempt to have the largest number of people weaving Brigid’s crosses at the one time. So why this record attempt? Well the St Brigid’s Cross is a universally recognized symbol and the weaving of a St Brigid’s cross is an ancient Irish custom. Its origin may have begun as a pre-Christian symbol, was then assimilated into Christianity and has resonance with other cross types in many cultures around the world. It was thought that setting a World Record would further enhance the continuity of this custom of weaving the St Brigid’s Cross. A new category fir the weaving of St Brigid’s cross was created by Guinness World records on foot of an application by Solas Bhride and Cairde Bhride. Once approved, excitement grew as practice workshops were organised to ensure that the cross weaving success was higher that 95% on the day of the challenge. On 21st September, 2013, 357 people gathered in St Brigid’s Church, Kildare town and successfully created a new world record for the most people to weave a St Brigid’s cross at the same time. Those who gathered came from towns across Kildare and many travelled from USA, Australia, many parts of Europe, UK, and Canada. On the 6th November Guinness World Records formally confirmed the new world record had been achieved and Solas Bhride were presented with the World Record Certificate. It was a tremendous and very special occasion, one which rests proudly in the minds and hearts of all those who participated on the day.
The Oak Tree – a symbol of enduring legacy
On the 7th October, National Tree Day, we reflected on the history of the Oak tree, a key part of Ireland’s heritage. Those of you who have visited Solas Bhride and walked the meditative walk may have chosen to sit by the Oak Grove. You may have wondered about the significance of the Oak tree for Solas Bhride and for Kildare. St. Brigid founded her famous double monastery under an Oak tree in Kildare town in the 5th Century, hence the name Cill Dara, Church of the Oak. Centuries later, Bishop Daniel Delaney founded his congregation of Brigidine Sisters on 1st February 1807 in Tullow, County Carlow. To symbolise the link between the ancient 5th Century monastic order of St Brigid and the newly founded Brigidine Sisters, he took an Oak sapling from Kildare Town and planted it in Tullow on February 1st. 1807. That tree stands proudly today, a majestic reminder of his legacy over 200 years later. Keeping the Legacy alive – all paths lead to Kildare Town On the bi-centenary of the Brigidine Order in July 2007 two gatherings took place simultaneously. A small pilgrim group of Brigidine Sisters and friends, led by Fr Paudie McLoughney, St Patrick’s walked c.50kms from Tullow to St Brigid’s Well carrying seven Oak saplings from the original/majestic Oak tree planted in 1807. They converged with an international pilgrim group at St Brigid’s Well in Kildare Town for a ritual celebrating St Brigid, her vision and values for today. A Piper then led the pilgrim groups to the site for the new Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre on Tully Road, where the Oak saplings were symbolically planted with a view to providing continuity to the legacy and future vision. Those chosen to plant the Oak saplings represented the Brigidine life past and present, the pilgrims who had come and who would come to Kildare in the future, friends, associates and co-workers, musicians, artists and poets and all those who would create and work on the new Centre. The Oak Grove Eight years on, those 7 saplings together with an additional thirteen saplings were planted in the grounds of the newly opened Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre to mark Earth Day 2015. They were planted to form Solas Bhride Oak Grove by representatives from the local community, artists, Brigidines worldwide, Afri and Cairde Bhride, all who carry the Brigidine tradition in their own way into new horizons.
Advent Wk 2: Journeying with the Light of Awareness
Welcome to Solas Bhríde and to our reflection on Advent. Our theme for the second Sunday is: Journeying with the Light of Awareness. We light the second candle – a symbol of awareness. Awareness is key to our Advent Journey. The lead into Christmas can be very busy and stressful. Advent invites us to take time to come home to ourselves – time to rest in the awareness of the divine presence at the core of our being. We invite you to pause now: Become aware of your breathing. Breathe in gently, breathe out gently fora few moments. Breathe the breath of life. Rest now. Be aware of the divine presence within you and around you… Gift yourself daily with this little practice. It could be one of the most meaningful and helpful gifts you will receive this Christmas. Advent is an awareness time to help us not to miss the signs of God’s presence. John Cullen
Replanting The Oaks
Two oak saplings planted at the entrance to Solas Bhride were transplanted recently. The oak saplings were nurtured from acorns taken from the oak tree planted in Tullow in Co. Carolw by Bishop Daniel Delany in 1807 when establishing the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Brigid. (Brigidine). These oaks were planted by Rita Minehan csb and Brenda Kindregran of Cairde Bhride. The courtyard area was not a suitable location for the little oaks to flourish. Hopefully, they will be able to stretch their limbs in their new location on the grounds.In their places two beautiful Magnolia trees were planted. The trees were a gift from Cairde Bhride, to commemorate 25 years of the presence of the Brigidine Sisters in Kildare and the re-lighting of the Brigid Flame. The magnolias are blossoming in their new home.
CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 2016
The official opening of the new Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitages, Tully Road, Kildare town took place on Friday, January 30th. A day and a celebration that will be forever etched in our memory.
July Events
Quiet Reflection and Meditation Entering into darkness, stillness, beyond time, beyond space. Waiting and listening, Until filled with that Mysterious Presence that reaches the depths within. Monday Meditation will resume in September **************************************************************** July Events July 1st – July 7th – Kildare Education Centre Summer Course – “In the school Garden” July 1st – Solas Bhride welcomes “Pride of Place” judges Sunday, July 5th – Brigid’s Way Pilgrims arrive in Kildare (See www.brigidsway.ie) Saturday, July 11th – Partners in Faith Summer School (Further information: www.partnersinfaith.ie) Monday, July 13th – Pilgrim Groups, USA Wednesday, July 22nd – Nurney/Kildangan Care of the Elderly Group Thursday, July 30th – Solas Women’s Development Group, Dublin *********************************************************************************** August Events Friday, August 14th – Graiguecullen Parish Youth Group Monday 17th – Friday 21st – Kildare Education Centre Summer course: “Mindfulness” Monday, 24th – “Tall oaks from little acorns grow” – Celebrating Heritage Week Time: 2.00 – 4.00 p.m. Experience the Solas Bhride story in word, song and landscape. Saturday, 29th – Dalkey Parish Group **********************************************************************************************************
Images from Feile Bride 2015
Solas Bhride Center and Hermitages ready to open its doors!
Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitages is finally complete! The name of our Centre “Solas Bhride” means the “light/flame of Brigid”. It is ironic then that the delay to the Centre being open to the public was due to lights – traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing outside the building. The pedestrian lights were finally connected on November 29nd which removed the last hurdle to be overcome in allowing the Centre to open. There have been many twists and turns on the road since the “Turning of the Sod ceremony” in February 2013. It has indeed being a faith journey and many a time we wondered if we knew before we started what we know now would we have set out on the journey at all. But we always received the “light” for the next step through the many unexpected surprises and kindnesses along the way. Now we are excited at the prospect of welcoming many pilgrims/visitors and we hope all who come will find solace here. We are ready for the next step on the journey. Joyce Rupp becomes one of the Centre’s first visitors! Joyce Rupp, well known writer and author of numerous bestselling books including “Praying our Goodbyes”, “Open the Door” and “Fragments of your Ancient Name” was one of the first visitors to the Centre. Joyce visited the Centre on a recent trip to Ireland. Joyce, Margaret and Maeve’s parting words were: “Trust an unknown future to an known God.”
Solas Bhride Center and Hermitages ready to open its doors! Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitages is finally complete! The name of our Centre “Solas Bhride” means the “light/flame of Brigid”. It is ironic then that the delay to the Centre being open to the public was due to lights – traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing outside the building. The pedestrian lights were finally connected on November 23rd which removed the last hurdle to be overcome in allowing the Centre to open. There have been many twists and turns on the road since the “Turning of the Sod ceremony” in February 2013. It has indeed being a faith journey and many a time we wondered if we knew before we started what we know now would we have set out on the journey at all. But we always received the “light” for the next step through the many unexpected surprises and kindnesses along the way. Now we are excited at the prospect of welcoming many pilgrims/visitors and we hope all who come will find solace here. We are ready for the next step on the journey. Joyce Rupp becomes one of the Centre’s first visitors! Joyce Rupp, well known writer and author of numerous bestselling books including “Open the Door” and “Fragments of your Ancient Name” was one of the first visitors to the Centre. Joyce visited the Centre on a recent trip to Ireland. Their parting words “Trust an unknown future to an known God.”
