‘A sweet victory for all mná’: Why we should celebrate St Brigid's Day

"The first question, however, is not so much how we will celebrate, but whom? Revered saint or pagan goddess? Or both?"

Brigid 1500 Light & Fire Walk, from Brigid 1500 - a programme of events in 2024 to commemorate the 1500th anniversary of St Brigid's death

It is genuinely exciting to find ourselves here; on the threshold of a new public holiday that celebrates a powerful woman from Irish history. There are so many possibilities. There is so much promise.

Unlike St Patrick’s Day, which comes encrusted with existing traditions — and much paddywhackery — St Brigid’s Day is still something of a blank canvas. True, we have marked the feast day of the matron saint of Ireland on February 1 for centuries, but this year is different.