In Faughart Dundalk Ravensdale and Carlingford Co Louth Brat Bhríde welcomes you to this festival which celebrates Brigid of Faughart and the Celtic festival of Imbolc in myth, landscape, folklore, spiritual customs, music and dance

In Faughart Dundalk Ravensdale

and Carlingford Co Louth
Brat Bhríde welcomes you to this festival which celebrates Brigid of Faughart and the Celtic festival of Imbolc in myth, landscape, folklore, spiritual customs, music and dance. The emphasis of this festival is to revisit and reclaim the richness of the traditions associated with Brigid of Faughart, in ways which are relevant to our lives in the 21^st century.

The lectures and workshops will offer opportunities

* for expanding deepening our knowledge of Brigid

*for tasting the Wisdom that she was and still is

*for Integrating Feminine Consciousness more surely

into contemporary culture.

The music and the time honoured rituals associated with Brigid and Imbolc will nourish our hearts and souls, and give us confidence in these uncertain times.
Brat Bhríde ( Maura Lennon, Mairead Heeney, Fr Tom Hamill and Dolores Whelan) is a voluntary group who have come together to organise this festival.

Lá Fhéile Bhríde will also be celebrated with a Tridium in St Nicholas Church Dundalk (29th Jan—1stFeb) and with a candlelight pilgrimage at Faughart Shrine (Feb 1st).

28^th Jan Wednesday 4.30pm

Reception in Centre of town of Sacred Flame from Kildare & Healing

Water from Faughart Well.

This reception will gather people from the local area and all over the island.

Invitations have been extended to representatives from all the traditions. We hope you will join us in this special celebration.

Wednesday Evening Jan 28^th 7.30pm

St Brigid’s School Ard Easmuinn Dundalk

(1) Irish Seasonal Festivals in Culture, landscape and Myth

Mary Mc Kenna, architect and mythologist
Mary’s presentation is an illustrated exploration of the presence and reflection of myth as it occurs in the landscape of Ireland and relates to the festivals of the Celtic year Mary Mc Kenna is an architect with the OPW She has a passion for both Celtic and Greek mythology and has created a spectacular visual

documentary on the mythological landscape of Ireland.
(2) Archaeology of Faughart Hill Victor Buckley

Victor Buckley is a Senior archaeologist with the National Monuments Service. He complied with David Sweetman ‘The Archaeological Landscape of Ireland’ , and with Tom Condit of the ‘Archaeology Ireland’ Heritage Guide Number 37 “Faughart, Co. Louth – the hill of heroes, saints, battles and boundaries”.
Cost: 10 Euro
Thursday Jan 29^th 7.30pm

County Museum Roden Place Dundalk

(1)The Folk customs and beliefs surrounding Lá Fhéile Bhríde and Imbolc

Padraigín Clancy
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)

(2)Exploring Brigid as inspiration for modern Ireland

Dolores Whelan

Dolores Whelan is a contributor to Celtic Threads and author of “Ever Ancient

Ever New Celtic Spirituality in the 21^st Century” She facilitates retreats and workshops in Celtic Spirituality and its relevance in our lives in the 21^st century.
Cost 15 Euro Concession 10Euro
Friday 30thJan 8.00pm :

Heritage Centre Carlingford Co. Louth
Opening the Heart through Music
An evening of uplifting and inspirational music with Deirdre Ní Chinnéide(Vocals) Gabriella Kapfer (Cello and Percussion), Gerry (fiddle ) O’ Connor and Paddy Martin (Flute & Pipes). This unusual combination of artists will weave a web of sounds and textures that will awaken the heart creating magical moments that will last long after the concert is over. Both Deirdre and Gabriella understand the healing potential of sound and music. The Celtic consciousness is the source of Deirdre’s inspiration, while Gabriella allows the sounds of nature and the angelic realms to flow through her creating unique music. Both use sound to bring the listener into the deeper realms within themselves and into the healing space of the heart.
Gerry “fiddle” O'Connor comes from a musical family in Dundalk with at least four generations of fiddle players. He learned music from his mother Rose O'Connor . He is known for his uniquely personal style of fiddle playing – splendidly fluid

bow-hand combined with technical virtuosity.
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.
Gabriella Kapfer is a sound-weaver, who has developed her own style of intuitive, improvised meditative healing music, inspired by the Celtic lands and her deep connection with Nature. Her music inspires, opens hearts and souls to remember.

Paddy Martin lives near Inniskeen and plays music professionally, on uilleann pipes, bagpipes and. He recently made an album entitled 'the moving cloud', and is also pursuing his interest in manufacturing pipes and flutes.
Cost 20 Euro, Concessions 15 Euro
Saturday Jan 31^st 10.00am -5.00pm

Pastoral Centre the Magnet Dundalk
An invitation to Brigid to come walk among us again and to step into our world carrying the fullness of her world.
Tom Hamill will facilitate a workshop

“Brigid of Faughart…Her giftedness can be ours!”

Dolores Whelan will facilitate a workshop

The Festival of Imbolc and its role in the Celtic year Calendar
This full day event will open with music and movement facilitated by May Coyle and Deirdre Ní Chinnéide who will also facilitate the gathering of the insights of the day.
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 .
Dolores Whelan is a contributor to Celtic Threads (1999) and author of “Ever Ancient Ever New Celtic Spirituality in the 21^st Century”. She facilitates retreats and workshops in Celtic Spirituality and its relevance in our lives in the 21^st century.
May Coyle has worked as a facilitator for many years in her work she weaves a tapestry using colour, movement music and much more!
Cost for the day: 65euro - Concession 45 euro

Light lunch is available and must be prebooked (10 euro)

Parking is available behind the Pastoral Centre

Sunday Feb 1^st Lá Fhéile Bhríde
Pilgrimage to Faughart Shrine: 9.00am

The pilgrimage will start at the Peace garden in Linenhall Street Dundalk at 9.00a.m. and people may walk some or all of the way to Faughart Shrine where a Eucharist will be celebrated at 12 noon with Fr. Tom Hamill.

4.00pm Ravensdale Community Hall , Ravensdale Co Louth

A Ritual celebration of Lá Fhéile Bhríde and Imbolc.
This community celebration of lá Fhéile Bhríde facilitated by Maura Lennon, Dolores Whelan and May Coyle will close the festival . Join us in this community based celebration to invoke the blessings of Brigid in our lives on her special day
Donation 10 euro/per person or family (children free)






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Accommodation

There is a wide range of accommodation available in Dundalk and Carlingford

The following places are offering special rates for this festival

Beaufort House, Carlingford [phone]

Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford [phone]

Arlee House B&B, Dundalk [phone]

Mount Oliver Convent [phone]

Or contact Fáilte Ireland [phone] www.failteireland.ie
Booking Form:
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I wish to book for the following events:

Day No. of Tickets Day No. of Tickets

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Friday (€20) __________ Saturday (€65) __________

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Special 5 day festival pass is available for 110euro

Weekend festival pass is available for 85euro
Booking Details

Bookings can be made using Cheque / Postal order and sent to

Brat Bhríde c/o An Cuige Ravensdale Dundalk Co Louth Ireland

Tel 00+ 353 (0) 42 9371901 or using Pay pal on line at www.doloreswhelan.ie