90+ Events on this Bank Holiday Weekend at Brigit: Dublin City Celebrating Women!

The fourth edition of Brigit: Dublin City Celebrating Women returns from Friday, 31st January to Monday, 3rd February 2025, with its largest programme to date. Over 90 thematic events will take place across the city, offering an exciting and diverse celebration of women’s contributions to culture, society, and history!

Founded in 2022 with the support of the Lord Mayor’s Office and led by Dublin City Council, Brigit: Dublin Celebrating Women honours the Celtic goddess Brigit, a powerful symbol of inspiration, healing, wisdom, poetry, magic, smithcraft, protection, fire, and earth. More than a celebration of nature’s reawakening, the celebrations represent a time of renewal, creativity, and growth. Through a vibrant city-wide programme, it highlights the contributions of women, both past and present, amplifying their profound impact on society and marking the arrival of Spring with a focus on their enduring strength and transformative roles.

The programme offers an exciting range of events that celebrate creativity, culture, and the enduring legacy of women’s contributions. From Friday 31st of January and across the entire Bank Holiday weekend, Dubliners and visitors alike will have the opportunity to experience a wealth of events, from fairs to workshops, talks to performances and more in celebration of Brigit. 

What’s On

Exhibitions, Projections & Screenings

Shine On: Brigit projections return to Dublin’s GPO on O’Connell Street and the Palace Building on Barnardo Square from Friday 31 January until Monday 3rd of February. Award-winning illustrator Paula McGloin presents Brigit: Spring Rising, which captures the essence of renewal and transformation that the season of Spring brings. Creative duo Jill & Gill return with Brigit: Boundless & Radical II, a powerful visual exploration of Brigit’s enduring legacy, blending vibrant imagery with thought-provoking themes. 

This year we invite people to ‘Wear the Icon, Celebrate the Legacy’ by purchasing your very own t-shirt or sweatshirt with a specially designed Brigit Icon designed by Jill & Gill. This collection honours the legacy of Brigit seen through a contemporary lens, inspiring women shaping our world today. Wear your support and be part of the movement!

The exhibition ‘In the Ticking Room’ by Eileen Leonard Sealy, curated by Dr. Margarita Cappock, invites visitors to explore the deep connections between humans, objects, and spaces, with with twenty of Sealy’s evocative paintings on display at The LAB from 16th January to 1st March. A special talk with the artist and curator to mark Brigit will take place Friday 31st of January. 

After the successful launch of photographer Deirdre Brennan’s Looking for Brigid photography project, Brigit is excited to return with the second chapter of this powerful series. Listening for Brigid invites you to explore the voices and stories behind the Bridget’s captured in Brennan’s lens from women of all ages, backgrounds, and spellings of the name, from Ireland and abroad. Patrons will be able to listen on line via dublin.ie/brigit or visit Gallery 19 in the Hugh Lane Gallery on select dates. On Saturday, 1st February at 12:00, the family-friendly film Wolfwalkers will be screened at the Chester Beatty, showcasing the magical story of a young apprentice hunter and her transformative journey through Irish mythology, with themes of nature and environmentalism. 

Spoken Word & Music

The Brigit 2025: Dublin City Celebrating Women programme will feature a range of powerful performances and events honoring women’s creativity, resilience, and cultural contributions. On Saturday, 1st February, Brigit x Seanchoíche: Brigit’s Fire: A Celebration of Women through Spoken Word, Music & Poetry will take place in the Pepper Canister Church. This special evening will blend spoken word, live music, and poetry, inviting participants and special guests such as multi-disciplinary artist Pippa Moloney, poet and performer from Dublin, Natalya O’Flaherty, singer-songwriter Farah Elle and Natasha O’Brien Goss.ie Woman of the Year, to share their own stories in an open-mic setting, celebrating the collective feminine spirit and the legacy of the Celtic goddess Brigit. 

On Monday 3rd of February, Little Women at Little Whelan’s offers a soul-stirring night of singer-songwriter music with Frances Wilde and special guests. The next day, Monday, 3rd February, brings The Armagh Rhymers Brigit Festival Family Performance, a free, colourful performance for families celebrating the traditions of Imbolc through music, storytelling, and drama. 

Parade

Returning this year will be the Brigit Parade which will shine a vibrant spotlight on the power, grace, and resilience of women from all walks of life who will stroll through the heart of Dublin in a joyful tribute to the inspiring women who have come before us and those who will illuminate the future. A unique blend of artistic expression, cultural tribute, and community spirit; the parade promises to be an unforgettable event which will weave through the heart of Dublin City on Sunday 2nd February, starting at 3.30pm. 

Kicking off on Capel Street, an eclectic mix of walkers, roller skaters from 50 First Skates, and cyclists from Brigits by Bike, along with Proud Vulvas, creative collective Na Gaiscígh, Macushla Dance Club 50+, Samba Dance Club and more will parade to honour Brigit. Leading the journey will be this year’s awe-inspiring centrepiece – Brigit Shining, designed by Sabine Dargent. The parade will  journey through the heart of Dublin, paying joyful tribute to the inspiring women who paved the way and those who will light the path to the future. The parade will then move to Henry Street, finishing  at the GPO in a vibrant procession honouring the trials and triumphs of womanhood and the female experience.

Imbolc Fair

On Monday 3rd February, Meeting House Square will come alive with the Imbolc Fair, a vibrant celebration of creativity, heritage, and community. From 12:00 – 16:30, visitors of all ages can enjoy a dynamic lineup of activities, including a DJ session with Louise Bruton, celebrating the Celtic goddess Brigit. Younger audiences can learn all about the Legend of St.Brigid’s magical cloak in a workshop with author / illustrator Úna Woods or attend a Shadow Puppetry Show and workshops with Flight of Fancy. Damn Fine Print will host live screen printing, while Children’s Books Ireland offers their popular Book Doctor service. Flowerpop will guide attendees in crafting festive flower crowns, and Steffi Otto will delve into the tradition of straw and rush crafts in Irish folk life. Enjoy 9 Iron Crafts Blacksmithing Demos with Mary Hallinan, Ireland’s first female blacksmith graduate and take part in Butter Making Workshop, and experience Brigit’s Table, where food, drink and travel writer Ali Dunworth and culinary consultant Santina Kennedy will explore Brigit’s food and drink connections through tales and tastings. 

Get Creative

Further celebrations include an exciting range of creative workshops and experiences, designed to engage the community and celebrate the artistic and cultural legacies of women. The Earthbound Tales exhibition and workshop at Pallas Projects/Studios on 31st January and 1st February will explore the interconnectedness between humans, non-humans, and the urban environment, blending art, science, and discussion. 

On 1st February, the Brigit’s Blessing event at the Belarmine Community Centre will combine restorative yoga, poetry, and sound therapy to invoke the spirit of Brigit and offer a transformative experience. 

Families can also enjoy the Brigid’s Day-Imbolc Poetry & Art Workshop at Chester Beatty, crafting art and poetry inspired by Brigit and the season of renewal, while the National Museum of Ireland will host Saints, Scholars, and Scribes workshops on 3rd February, where attendees can explore early medieval Irish history through hands-on activities. 

For those looking for more tactile experiences, workshops such as Brigit’s Cross Embroidery and Celtic Knot Embroidery at Studio 4 will offer creative stitching projects, while Silverworks will host classes on metal clay and Claddagh ring forging, where participants can create bespoke jewellery inspired by Irish traditions. Additionally, the Family Straw Brat Bridé & Brigid’s Crosses Workshop at the National Museum of Ireland offers a family-friendly crafting opportunityThese diverse workshops promise to inspire, engage, and celebrate creativity in its many forms across the festival weekend.

Talks & Seminars

On 30th January, the LEO Dublin City Women in Business Network returns to the Mansion House with a business seminar featuring successful women entrepreneurs who will share their business journeys and insights. Later that day, Brigit 2025 – Celebrating Women in Social Enterprises will highlight women-led social enterprises, exploring their innovative work and impact on communities. For those interested in historical perspectives, an online lecture at the National Museum of Ireland will dive into the fascinating story of St. Brigid’s Shoe Shrine, with expert Cormac Bourke offering new research on this unique artefact. Eileen Leonard Sealy will also share insights into her exhibition In the Ticking Room at The LAB Gallery, focusing on themes of time and memory. 

On 1st February, the Beautiful Brigid talk will explore the goddess’s multifaceted connection to beauty and her role in Irish history and mythology. A thought-provoking online talk on Antigone’s World Wisdom and St. Brigid will draw powerful parallels between two iconic figures of resistance and moral conviction. On 3rd February, Queering Bríd: Celebrating Ireland’s Hidden Sapphic History will blend talks and performances that uncover the queer narratives in Irish mythology and history. Meanwhile, the Vulva Stories “Chapter One” installation at the Temple Collective will offer an interactive space for women to share their stories through art, music, and performance. Additionally, the TrailblazHERTM First Steps Programme will host workshops throughout January and February, providing guidance for women interested in exploring entrepreneurship. 

Women Walking the City

Brigit 2025 celebration also offers an inspiring selection of walking tours, allowing participants to explore the rich history and untold stories of women in Dublin. The Forgotten Women of the 1916 Rebellion tour will highlight the pivotal but often overlooked roles of women in Ireland’s struggle for independence, including figures like Dr. Kathleen Lynn and Elizabeth O’Farrell. Also, on St. Brigid’s Day, visitors can enjoy the Saints, Scholars, and the Power of Writing in Early Ireland tour at the National Museum, exploring the legacy of Ireland’s patron saints and the early spread of Christianity. Meanwhile, the Women of Ireland Tour: Trailblazers & Pioneers offers an immersive walk through Dublin’s streets to uncover the legacies of revolutionary leaders, artists, and activists. For a deeper dive into the lives of women in Dublin, the Women’s Lives Hidden in Buildings tour will take you through historic streets, revealing the struggles and resilience of women in different eras. 

Other unique offerings include the Flâneuse Walk & Sketch, a guided exploration of Dublin’s streets celebrating women’s connection to the urban environment, and the Cycle to Brigit’s Well, a pilgrimage to Phoenix Park, where participants can reflect on Brigit’s enduring influence. For those interested in more specialized histories, the Revolutionary Women and Symbols of Ireland tours offer insights into the roles of women in conflict and the evolution of Irish symbols. Additionally, the Brigid’s Way Imbolc Pilgrimage on 3rd February invites participants to walk the ancient pilgrimage route to St. Brigid’s Well in Clondalkin, celebrating the arrival of Spring and Brigit’s legacy. These walking tours offer a powerful way to engage with Dublin’s past while honoring the vital contributions of women throughout history.

Brigit 2025: Dublin Celebrating Women invites you to join in this empowering celebration, weaving together the past, present, and future stories of remarkable women. Let the spirit of Brigit aid in embracing diversity, creativity, and the collective strength that defines the heart of our city. Full programme details are available at dublin.ie/Brigit