Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. In Louth - home of the birthplace of St. Brigid - a remarkable project unfolded to commemorate the 1,500th anniversary of this beloved Irish saint. I congratulate Louth County Council on its Brigid 1500 festival that really captured the imagination of all those who attended, especially the large "northern lights" show that attracted an estimated 48,000 visitors in just a few days. Along with a large-scale street and theatre performance, on a smaller scale but equally as important, students from St. Brigid's School in Dundalk with support from my Department designed a life-sized cloak made from copper foil circles paying homage to the enduring legacy of St. Brigid, and her deep connection to the town of Faughart. The choice of copper is significant, as it symbolises St. Brigid's association with the metalwork trade, making her the patroness of blacksmiths.

As part of the development of its new campaign to leverage St. Brigid's Day around the world, Tourism Ireland engaged with Louth County Council to discuss its festival work programme. While logistically it was not feasible to incorporate content in the 2024 campaign, consideration can certainly be given in any future campaigns to include St. Brigid's connection with Louth.

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