Information on next Brigid of Faughart Festival

Brigid of Faughart Festival 2011

Festival which celebrates Brigid Of Faughart and the Celtic Festival of Imbolc in myth, landscape, folklore, spiritual customs, music and dance.

Friday 28th January

The rites and practices associated with Brigid, Goddess and Saint.
Fr. Sean O 'Duinn
Venue: Magnet Pastoral Centre, Demesne Road, Dundalk
Time: 7.30 p.m.


Saturday 29th January

'Sheela-na-Gig'
A Fine Art Mono Print Workshop for Adults (no experience needed)
Time: 10.00am -12.00 noon
Facilitator: Mary Kearns
Venue: The Coach House, 8 Roden Place, Dundalk.

Saturday 29th January

Brigid's Bird Walk
11:30 am to around 1.00 pm.
Facilitator: Brendan McSherry, Louth Heritage Officer.
Meet at end of Castletown River Walkway beside the Newry Road Texaco filling station.


Saturday 29th January

Brigid of Faughart - Beloved of Earth and Heaven
2.30pm to 4.30 pm
Facilitator: Fr. Tom Hamill
Venue: Magnet Pastoral Centre, Demesne Rd. Dundalk


Sunday January 30th

Pilgrimage Walk to Faughart Shrine at 10 am
Starting at the Peace Garden, Linenhall St. Dundalk.


Sunday January 30th

Exploring the Sacred Sites of Faughart
12 noon to 1 pm
Facilitator: Pat O'Rourke
Meet at the Shrine Gates at Faughart, then proceeding to Faughart Graveyard. This walk will be enhanced by the knowledge and keen interest of Pat O'Rourke in the Faughart Landscape and Heritage


Sunday January 30th

Brigid Breathes Life into the Mouth of Dead Winter
Exploring the role of Brigid in the transformation of consciousness in Ireland at this time
2.30 to 4.30 pm
Facilitator: Dolores Whelan
Venue: Magnet Pastoral Centre, Demesne Road, Dundalk

Sunday January 30th

Ritual Celebration of Brigid and the festival of Imbolc @ 6.30 pm
Ravensdale Community Hall, Ravensdale, Dundalk


Monday January 31st

"Breaking Ground with Brigid" - Gardening at Imbolc
Time: 11:00 am -1:30 pm
Facilitator: Pamela Whitaker
Venue: Groundswell (located between Dundalk and Carlingford)
includes refreshments and handouts
St. Brigid's Day celebrates the awakening of the growing season, and the planting of new gardens for health, creativity, and the nurturing of the environment. This workshop will propagate ideas for nature friendly gardening and celebrate traditional plants and their uses in domestic and community gardens


Monday January 31st

Poetry Reading at RIVA Townhouse, Restaurant, Seatown Pl., at 8pm.
Visiting poet is Tom French and Open Microphone will offer opportunities to local poets to read also.


Tuesday February 1st

Healing Day
Drop in for a brief session (15 minutes)
of Healing, through Prayer and simple Laying-on of hands.
Venue: Carroll Mead Hall, Pearse Park
9.30am - 12.30pm. 5-7 pm.
Donations welcome towards rent (any surplus to Womens' Aid)


Tuesday February 1st

Eucharist for St. Brigid's Day
Fr. Tom Hamill @ 1 pm
The Oratory at Faughart Shrine

Brigid of Faughart Festival 2010

Jan 27th to Feb 1st 2010 - Dundalk, Co. Louth

Wednesday, 27th Jan:

Healing Circle 7.30 p.m
Facilitator: Fr. Tom Hamill
Venue: St. Brigid's Special School, Ard Easmuinn Cost: €10

Thursday 28th Jan:

Cross making workshop for school children 11.00am & 2.30pm
Facilitators: Maura Lennon and Una Casey

Venue: County Library Roden Place Dundalk Free event

RECEPTION of Sacred Flame & Healing Water 4.30pm

Venue: Town Centre (opposite Courthouse)

This ceremony brings together two symbols associated with Brigid, the Sacred Flame from Kildare and the Healing Water from Faughart Well. Invitations have been extended to representatives from all the traditions. We hope you will join us in this special celebration.


“Brigid and the Cosmic Landscape” 8.00pm
Speaker: Anthony Murphy


Anthony Murphy is an author and editor of the Dundalk Democrat.
He is co-author with Richard Moore of Island of the Setting Sun

Friday Jan 29th

“Exploring the magic and the mystery of Water” 1.00pm
Speaker: Dolores Whelan

Venue: Dundalk County Library

In this talk Dolores draws on the work of Dr Emoto, a Japanese researcher, whose work shows the amazing effect of thinking and music on the crystalline structure of water. Dolores explores what this might mean in our lives especially the healing aspect of water. Free Event

Dolores Whelan is author of “Ever Ancient Ever New Celtic Spirituality in the 21st Century”. She facilitates retreats and workshops which bring together insights from science and spirituality.


“Brigid brings new life to today's Ireland – Rekindling the fire of Brigid”

Facilitator: Padraigín Clancy 7.30pm

Padraigín Clancy is an Irish Folklorist and historian with a special interest on Celtic Spirituality. She facilitates retreats that embrace Celtic spirituality, in Ireland USA and Australia .She is editor and co-author of “Celtic Threads Exploring the wisdom of our Heritage” (1999)

Saturday Jan 30th :

Registration for events in The Magnet Centre 9.30am

“The Rites of Brigid Goddess and Saint” 10.00 – 11.30am
Speaker: Fr. Sean O'Duinn


Fr Sean O'Duinn is a monk in Glenstal Abbey and author of “Where three streams meet” and “ The Rites of Brigid Goddess and Saint”. For many years he has lectured in Celtic Mythology and Folklore in Mary Immaculate College in the University of Limerick.


“Turas an Chroí - Journey of the Heart” (Workshop 1)
Music and movement take us closer to what language cannot reach. It is a journey into stillness, mystery and our own creativity, the journey of the heart. This is an invitation to explore chant, meditation and movement through the depth, beauty and richness of our Celtic heritage.
12.00 – 1.30pm
Facilitator: Deirdre Ní Chinnéide

Deirdre Ní Chinnéide has sung extensively in both Irish and English for many years. She explores the healing potential of sound and song with particular connection to the Spirit and Shadow of Celtic Consciousness.

“Does Brigid keep us right around here?” (Workshop 2)
3.00pm -5.30pm
Facilitator: Tom Hamill
Venue: Pastoral Centre, The Magnet, Dundalk Cost €25
Tom Hamill is deeply committed to, and experienced in offering opportunities to adults whereby they can grow in self-knowledge, compassion and a sense of interconnectedness.


"BRIDOG" A Fine Art Inner Child Workshop for CHILDREN:
11.00am –12.30pm
Facilitator: Mary Kearns

"BRIDOG" A Fine Art Inner Child Workshop for ADULTS
(no experience needed) (Workshop 3) 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Facilitator: Mary Kearns

Mary Kearns is an expressionist painter -sculptor working in Fingal. She facilitates experiential workshops, which use light spectrum frequency to facilitate unconscious self-expression, which leads to the unfolding of creativity within the person. Mary's background includes Fine Art-Education-Theology-Philosophy-Mythology. Her exhibitions include Gods &Goddesses of Fair Fingal, Hidden Wisdom of the Cailleach & the Many Faces of the Sacred Feminine.

Family bird watching walk 11:30-am -12.30pm
Leader: Brendan McSherry
Louth heritage officer, Brendan McSherry, will lead a short family bird-watching walk which is suitable for adults and children aged 5 to 12 accompanied by adults It will introduce them to the tens of thousands of wild birds who winter here and make Dundalk Bay the top site in Ireland for over-wintering birds. This will be a looped walk around the part of the Castletown River estuary from the Big Bridge Newry Road to the Táin Bridge and back.

Collaborative Party! 8.30pm

Venue: Courtyard at Annaverna House, Ravensdale, Dundalk

This evening will provide an opportunity to use our collective creativity and artistry, as we co-create an evening of song, visual art, poetry, music, and dance

Sunday 31st Jan:

Pilgrimage Walk to Faughart Shrine 9.00am
The pilgrimage will start at the Peace garden in Linenhall Street, Dundalk
People may walk some or all of the way to Faughart Shrine
Eucharist will be celebrated at Faughart led by Fr. Tom Hamill. 11am


“Awakening the Fire within” (Workshop 1) 2.00pm – 4.30pm
Brigid is strongly associated with the essential energies of life, namely fire and water. This workshop will focus on awakening and safe harnessing of the life-giving fire energy which, when used compassionately, awakens our passion and supports us to become agents of transformation within our world.

Venue: Pastoral Centre, The Magnet, Dundalk

Dolores Whelan is a contributor to Celtic Threads (1999) and author of “Ever Ancient Ever New Celtic Spirituality in the 21st Century”. She facilitates retreats and workshops in Celtic Spirituality and its relevance in our lives in the 21st century. Her work also integrates insights from science and spirituality.


Sacred Song and Dance Labyrinth Workshop (Workshop 2)
2.00pm – 4.00pm
Labyrinths are a walking meditation, which have been used as a tool for reflection and insight for thousands of years, and have been found in many cultures around the world. Imbolc celebrates the return of the light and is traditionally a time associated with healing and new beginnings.
Small steps….. Big Changes…..
Facilitator: Valerie Whitworth
Venue: St Nicholas Hall, Philip Street.

Walking the Labyrinth 4.00 - 5.30pm
This is an opportunity for anyone who wishes to walk and experience the labyrinth.
Cost: Donation
Venue: St. Nicholas' Hall, Philip Street.

Story Telling for children of all ages 4.30-6.00pm
(especially adults who wish to be childlike!!!)

Facilitator: Tony Cuckson

Venue: Pastoral Centre, The Magnet, Dundalk

Tony Cuckson is an Irish mystic storyteller who invites you into the experience of beauty through tales of the Tuatha dé Danaan, the Shining Ones. Through these timeless wonder tales you are invited to experience the wonder of who you are intended to be! Tony is a member of the Irish Society of Storytellers.


“Poetry in Motion” 7.30pm
Venue: An Táin Theatre Dundalk

The Poetry Chicks, are modern bards with an ancient mission, who use the Spoken Word in the endless search for the truth This is an opportunity to experience one of Ireland's most unique twosomes as they perform uncompromising and original work which creates a rollercoaster of emotions. Poet Bee Smyth will also read from her new book, “A Brigid's Breviary”, together with the work of Barbara Smith and other local poets.

Bee Smith has published poems, short stories, and creative non-fiction is USA, UK and Irish publications. She has a regular column in the USA women's spirituality magazine "Sagewoman." Barbara Smith lives in Dundalk and teaches Creative Writing at DKIT. Her first collection, Kairos, was published by Doghouse Books in 2007. She was a prize winner in 2009 at the Wigtown Poetry Competition in Scotland.

Monday Feb 1st

Hands-on Healing:
10.00 – 11.00 am; 12.00 – 2.00pm; 5.00 – 7.00pm
You are invited to avail of Hands-on Healing – there will be a
number of practitioners using different modalities of healing offering
short 15 minute sessions per person.

“Breaking Ground with Brigid” - Gardening at Imbolc
11:00 am -1:30 pm
Facilitator: Pamela Whitaker
St. Brigid's Day celebrates the awakening of the growing season, and the planting of new gardens for health, creativity, and the nurturing of the environment. This workshop will propagate ideas for nature friendly gardening and celebrate traditional plants and their uses in domestic and community gardens.
Venue: Groundswell, (located between Dundalk and Carlingford)

Pamela Whitaker and Groundswell offer organic and biodiversity gardening workshops that combine ideas and skills for growing low maintenance ecologically inspired gardens.

The Culture Challenge
This stimulating and timely provocation outlines the challenge of culture change in a world undergoing a radical transition and paints a hopeful perspective on what is possible if we understand the relationship between professional decisions and systemic outcomes, and use our work to open up new pathways to a very different future.

Venue: The County Museum Roden Place, Dundalk
This event is co-sponsored by DKIT
Tea/coffee served from 4.45pm Lecture: 5.00pm

Paula Downey is a partner at Downey Youell Associates, creators of CultureWork - a unique resource supporting leaders and change agents who want to adopt a living-systems approach to cultural renewal. Alongside her organisational development work she speaks and writes on the challenges and opportunities of system change.

Lá Fhéile Bhríde will also be celebrated with:
The annual Triduum at St Nicholas Church, Dundalk
Jan 30th, 31st and Feb 1st each evening at 7.30pm:

Candlelight Procession from Faughart Hill to Faughart Shrine Sunday Jan 31st 8.00pm

Exhibitions: Tuesday 26th Jan until Saturday 6th Feb.

Beautiful images of the structure of Water (from the work Dr Emoto, Japanese researcher into the effect of thinking and music on the crystalline structure of water)

Venue: The County Library, Dundalk

Art Exhibition by local artists will be on display in different locations through the town - details later