Celebrating the spirit of St Brigid at Kildare Festival

When it comes to the blending of folklore and geography, there can be no doubting the relevance of Co Kildare in Brigid’s story.

St Brigid is regarded as Kildare’s very own saint, founding the first nunnery in Ireland on the low hill of Kildare in 480 AD, according to local folklore.

Their histories intertwined, Kildare continues to build on this shared heritage in a revival of Brigid’s legacy around the time of her traditional feast day and now our newest bank holiday, 1 February.

Spirit of Kildare

This year, Brigid 2025, Spirit of Kildare Festival is honouring the life, character and work of Brigid through music, art, and craft such as making Brigid’s dolls and crosses.

Irish singer-songwriter Róisín O is looking forward to performing in the Brigid 2025, Spirit of Kildare Festival, which kicks off on Thursday, 23 January.

Returning for the second time to the festival, Róisín will perform as part of ‘Written in the Soul: An Evening of Song’ set in the impressive St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare on Sunday, 2 February.

St Brigid, one of Ireland’s best-known saints, has a personal resonance for Róisín.

“I love the idea of Brigid. She’s a Catholic symbol, but I also really see her as almost like this old Pagan Ireland symbol.

“She’s very much a Celtic symbol, that’s something I would connect with me. I love that strong female, that spirit of Ireland that has been here for hundreds and hundreds of years.”

“Actually, funnily enough in my secondary school, we had houses [a way of organising students into groups for activities or sport] like in Harry Potter. They were all Catholic saints and my house was St Brigid!” jokes Róisín. “I’ve been a St Brigid girl for a long time.”

Looking back at the Brigid 1500 celebration last year, Róisín says she spent the months prior to the festival in Dingle, Co Kerry writing new songs.

“When I did Brigid last year, I had written a load of new songs and some songs that I was thinking I don’t know if I’ll ever release this,” she says. “But it was this special day and a special audience, I think.

“In January and February time, things are quiet and people are holed away. It was a really personal gig and I felt like it was the time for me to play new ones. I played a couple of songs for the very first time.

“The reaction I got from the audience was just brilliant and really made me think these songs have something, and I wouldn’t often do that.”

It’s almost like you’re having a session with the audience, you’re in a sing-song

“Having that experience of playing brand new songs to this really attentive, lovely audience helped me want to develop the songs more. I released one of those songs, Winter With You, which I wrote last year. It’s got those wintry vibes.”

For those new to the festival, Róisín describes it as “a relaxed gig with an acoustic feel”.

“It’s almost like you’re having a session with the audience, you’re in a sing-song,” she explains. “I think it’s going to be a similar vibe this year and in the church I think it’s going to be even more personal and lovely. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be my first gig of the year.”

As much as she enjoyed performing new songs, Róisín says that she loves collaborating with other women as part of the festival.

“One thing I really loved about last year was also getting to meet the other women because obviously the festival is about Brigid and about celebrating other women. Like the lineup on my night of a beautiful Cathy Jordan, Eimear Quinn, and Muireann Bradley – I’m just excited to see what they’re doing and listen to their songs as well and just be in a room with those amazing women. It should be a great night.”

A new dimension has been added to the festival with a performance from some of Ireland’s leading male artists on Sunday, 26 January to celebrate female empowerment. The concert ‘He For She: An Evening for Equality’ will feature performances by Bob Geldof, Danny O’Reilly, Amble, Jack L, Robert Grace, and local band MOA.

“I think ‘He For She’ is a really great addition this year,” says Róisín. “It’s a male lineup in the spirit of positivity. It’s bringing together a bunch of men who are bigging up women, which I think is really lovely.”

Free activities

While many ticketed events at the festival are now sold out, Katie Lane, administrative officer in the community department of Kildare County Council, says that the festival will also feature a range of free activities.

“This year’s Brigid 2025, Spirit of Kildare Festival has something truly special for everyone. We’ve curated an incredible lineup, with some of Ireland’s finest artists and performers but beyond the concerts, there’s so much more.

“We’ve got free activities like ‘Songs on a Boat’, ‘Spirit of Play’ days, a stunning fire and light procession, and lots of community events. If you’re a sports fan, the ‘Warriors: Celebrating Ireland’s Sportswomen’ event is one to watch. And for those who love wellness, ‘This Wonderful World: A Day for Wellness & Joy’ will have everything from sound therapy to artisan food trucks.

“Of course, we couldn’t forget ‘The Brigid’s Day Gathering’ on 1 February at the Curragh Racecourse, it’s a real highlight, bringing the whole community together.”

Katie says that the success of Brigid 1500 in 2024 has created a solid foundation for Brigid 2025, Spirit of Kildare, and the feedback from last year played a huge part in shaping this year’s events.

“This year, we’ve aimed even higher, creating a programme that’s more vibrant and diverse while staying true to the heart of what makes this festival special: community and heritage,” adds Katie.

“We’re so proud that the festival has become a cornerstone for celebrating St Brigid and her significance, not just in Irish culture but on a global scale.

“It’s a platform for conversations about empowerment, creativity, and sustainability, and we hope that will inspire people long after the festival ends.”

“Our long-term vision is for the festival to become a permanent feature of Ireland’s cultural landscape, a tradition that grows stronger every year. It’s about connecting people to our heritage and celebrating it in a way that feels alive and relevant.”

See spiritofbrigid.ie Róisín O’s single, Winter With You, is available online.