Louth County Council has announced plans for a programme of events and initiatives to celebrate and commemorate Saint Brigid.
2023 will see the first national Bank Holiday to celebrate St. Brigid and according to leading Brigidine experts, 2024 marks the 1500th anniversary of her death.
With this in mind, Louth County Council will begin a series of initiatives that will run between the 2023 and 2024 celebrations to create a meaningful legacy for all to enjoy and participate in.
Chief executive Joan Martin supported the announcement commenting “Our Brigid 1500 programme will seek to engage communities throughout the county to come together and celebrate the life and legacy of Brigid.
“We are planning a range of initiatives including a live concert during the year to include local musicians and choirs; our libraries and county museum will be hosting a series of workshops and lectures throughout the year all centred around the theme of St Brigid.
There will also be a fantastic opportunity for a local artist, or artist group, through the Council’s “Artist in the Community” residency for which they will be doing a call out in January.
“This residency will offer the artist(s) a year long residency to work with a range of local community groups and schools to create a series of textile and artistic creations that will be exhibited during the 2024 celebrations” Ms Martin explained.
“And of course we will be looking at walking tours at the local shrine and St Brigids’ well, along with a host of other initiatives that will offer opportunities for locals to immerse themselves in the history and legacy of Brigid.”
The Brigid1500 programme will be co-ordinated through the Economic Development section of the council under the direction of Colette Moss along with support from the Arts Office and Arts Officer Moya Hodgers.
There are also plans to partner with Kildare on at least two events in the run up to the 1500 anniversary commemorations in 2024, which gives both counties an opportunity to come together and promote the legacy of their shared Saint in a way which will hopefully resonate with citizens in both counties and give us an opportunity to create something spectacular for all.
For further details on the Brigid1500 plans in Louth email brigid1500@louthcoco.ie
