After the resounding success of the Brigid 1500 programme last year, Kildare County Council have announced that the internationally recognised festival will return for 2025 – taking place from January 24 to February 3.

They shared the news at a special launch event at Naas Library and Cultural Centre yesterday, with special guests Mary Coughlan and Megan O'Neill – who are part of the Brigid 2025: Spirit of Kildare line-up – performing.

The 2025 programme will include several special St. Brigid’s day concerts and events in collaboration with Hot Press. Artists confirmed to take part across the festival include Mary Coughlan, Orla Gartland, Una Healy, Lemoncello, Lisa O’Neill, and Megan O’Neill – with many more to be announced.

Last year's edition of the festival brought nearly 80,000 visitors to the county of Kildare – and organisers hope to see it continue to grow year-on-year, as it becomes a mainstay in the Irish festival calendar.

This year’s festival – which is centred around the theme 'Her Spirit, Our Story' – promises a bigger, bolder, and more vibrant experience, as it brings together performances, cultural events, educational activities and immersive celebrations that honour the enduring spirit of Brigid.

Brigid 2025 - Spirit of Kildare launch. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The festival continues to highlight the values Brigid championed, such as peace, sustainability, arts and culture, spirituality, social justice, hospitality, and education, and their relevance in the world today.

The special concerts and events presented in collaboration with Hot Press include:

● Nothing Compares - A Celebration of Irish Women Artists at The Moat Theatre. A night of extraordinary, genre-spanning music by Irish women, which will celebrate the boundless range and talent of Ireland’s contemporary female artists

● He for She at Dreamland Ballroom. A concert that brings together some of Ireland’s leading artists to celebrate the 'He for She' ideal, adding a new dimension to the Brigid’s Day proceedings – in which men share the festival, and its core message of female empowerment.

● Mother Earth at The Wonderful Barn. A star-studded show featuring songs on the theme of 'Mother Earth'. A line-up of Ireland’s leading female artists will link the spirit of Brigid with the primal power of Mother Earth.

Una Healy at the Mother Earth at The Wonderful Barn Marquee, Leixlip to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Intel. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Other programme highlights will include:

● Written In The Soul: An Evening of Song at St. Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare. This specially curated, ticketed event will draw from the well of spiritual music, choral music, soul music and the Irish tradition to deliver a show that stirs the soul and the spirit alike.

● Warriors! Celebrating Ireland’s Sportswomen at The Curragh Racecourse. A fun, sport-filled day at The Curragh for all the family, and an evening event. The day will finish with a concert, featuring a very special musical guest, taking to the main stage for a celebratory performance!

● Inclusive Family Fun Days throughout the county,

Brigid 2025 - Spirit of Kildare launch. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

“Revered for her miracles and visions, Brigid carved out her own independent path and was a powerful inspiration for many people," Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, said at yesterday's event. "This is the powerful legacy that Brigid 2025 - Spirit of Kildare keeps alive.

“With Brigid 2025 - Spirit of Kildare, we’re carrying forward the momentum of last year’s success of Brigid 1500 and building a festival that promises to be even bigger and better," she continued. "This was established as an inclusive celebration honouring the life and legacy of St Brigid, and designed to bring her story to life in new, inspiring ways for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Sonya Kavanagh went on to note that Brigid 2025 is "an initiative that invites everyone to engage with Kildare’s heritage throughout the festival. We hope this connection and this celebration continues for years to come.”

“Thanks to the incredible support, and attendance of thousands at last year’s events, we are confident that this festival has resonated and will continue to resonate with those who call Ireland home and those who are visiting," she added.

Brigid 2025 - Spirit of Kildare launch. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes stated that it "has been a real pleasure for everyone in Hot Press, working on the development of the festival in Kildare over the past two years.

"The theme of celebrating Irish women artists has resonated powerfully with the artists themselves, and with audiences," he resumed. "Since Brigid’s Day was announced as a national holiday in 2023, we’ve enjoyed some of the most special nights of music imaginable in Kildare – reflecting the extraordinary sense of solidarity, mutual support and community that exists among Ireland’s female singers, songwriters and performers.

"With that in mind, we are looking forward with great anticipation to ten days of wonderful music in towns across the county as January turns into February, to celebrate the indomitable Irish female spirit – the spirit of Brigid."

Further festival details, including ticketing and event locations, will be available soon. For more information on Brigid 2025, visit spiritofbrigid.ie and follow Spirit of Brigid on social media channels.