The Department of Foreign Affairs is today launching its sixth annual global St Brigid’s Day programme of events.
Since 2018, Ireland’s diplomatic network, in partnership with local communities from Mumbai to Madrid, Sydney to Santiago and London to Lilongwe, have organised St Brigid’s Day events to celebrate the achievements of trailblazing, inspirational women all over the world.
This year is a special year as, for the first time, Ireland will also honour St Brigid with a public holiday, the first Irish public holiday to be dedicated to a female figure.
St Brigid’s Day itself, 1 February, traditionally marks the beginning of Spring in Ireland and has long symbolised hope, renewal and the feminine. It is the perfect day on which to celebrate the achievements of Irish women and of women everywhere.
Ahead of the various events, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD said:
“This is a very special year as, for the first time, we mark St Brigid’s day and celebrate the achievements of Irish women with a public holiday. Ireland has marked this day internationally for a number of years now. This will be the sixth year that the Department of Foreign Affairs, through its global network of diplomatic missions has organised a global celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde and of Irish women.
“It is a day on which to reflect on and take pride in in the achievements of Irish women.
“It is also a day on which to re-assert our commitment to and our determination to achieve absolute gender equality across the board, whether in politics, business, sport, or in any other walk of life.
“In sport, in particular, 2023 will be a very special year for Irish women as, for the first time ever, Ireland will participate in a FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, a truly magnificent achievement that is an inspiration for Irish women and girls, on St Brigid’s Day and every other day.”
Ireland.ie will be host to a St Brigid’s Day hub, which will showcase the programme of events taking place internationally. Link here: https://www.ireland.ie/sbd
On 1 February, the Department of Foreign Affairs will mark St Brigid’s Day with a special EU50 Lecture at Iveagh House, delivered by Justice Síofra O’Leary on her first official visit to Ireland since being elected President of the European Court of Human Rights.
Following her lecture, President O’Leary will be joined by Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, Chair of the Oireachtas Women’s Caucus, and Professor Aoife Nolan, recently elected President of the European Committee of Social Rights, to reflect on how membership of the Council of Europe and the European Union has changed Ireland, including by advancing equality.
Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Peter Burke TD will host the lecture.
An exciting programme of cultural events has also been organised by Ireland’s National Cultural Institutions, with further details available on individual institutions’ websites.
Exhibitions at IMMA and the National Museum will celebrate the work of seminal Irish women artists and political pioneers; while the National Concert Hall will present Rebel Irishwomen; and the Crawford Art Gallery will present a special St Brigid’s Day tour of the collection. There will be a range of community-based events organised by the local authorities. Kildare County Council, in particular, has planned a programme of events celebrating its unique links with St Brigid.