Brigid 1500

Launching on Saturday, 27th January at 4pm, Kildare Town will transform into an open air art gallery. This new exhibition follows the success of Sult Artist Collective's  collaborative exhibition with other Kildare artists Brigid Unfolding during Brigid 1500, in  2023.  More than twenty local businesses will exhibit 60 works of international and national art in their windows as part of the Brigid 1500 celebrations in 2024.

This uniquely accessible art exhibition titled “Unravelling an Icon, Celebrating and Remembering Brigid and her Legacy" was organised by Sult Artists, an Artist led collective, to reflect the traditions, customs and symbols associated with Brigid’s legacy, marking the 1500th anniversary of the death of Brigid.  

Following an international open call in May 2023, 215 pieces of art were submitted by artists from all over the world including England, Wales, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Ethiopia, Australia, Japan, Canada, USA and New Zealand as well as from across Ireland. 

The official launch of the exhibition took place in Market Square of the beautiful and historic Kildare Town, on Saturday 27th January 2024, at 4pm. Dr. Niamh Wycherley. This event was kindly sponsored by Kildare Credit Union.

The exhibition runs until Sunday, 18th February 2024. All proceeds from the souvenir catalogue will de donated directly to Médecins San Frontiére. 

This project is supported by Brigid 1500 and Kildare Co. Council Arts Service. 

 Brigid's Monastic settlement in Kildare Town was a centre of learning and with that in mind, Sult Artist Liza Kavanagh has collaborated with students from Ballyshannon National School and Kildare Educate Together on a wonderful art project! 

The aim of the project was to facilitate child led, process driven creativity in  the classroom inspired by the symbology, myth and stories of Brigid. Liza worked with different age groups from Senior infants to 6th class, and in partnership with the teachers, planned and prepared each project. The student's work will be exhibited alongside work from artists around the world in Sult Artist's exciting, open air Art Trail during Brigid 1500 celebrations. 

Special thanks to the pupils and teachers  of both schools for their contribution. 

An Exhibition of Paintings, Glass, Prints and Sculpture, Brigid Unfolding was the inaugural exhibition by SULT and invited artists as part of the Brigid 1500 Programme of Events 2023 -2024. It was held in No.8  Gallery, Academy St., Kildare and was a thought- provoking exhibition celebrating the life and lore of Brigid of Kildare.  

Artists approached the theme of Brigid Unfolding from various different viewpoints: Brigid as patroness of Ireland, of poetry, learning, fertility, healing, blacksmithing, livestock, among others. She shares her name and feast-date with Brigid, the Celtic goddess associated with the pre-Christian festival Imbolc. Her fame and influence are worldwide. Since there are few historical facts, debate continues as to her existence as Christian or pagan. 

Whatever her origins, folklore states that she founded a monastery in Kildare and is widely associated with a variety of customs and traditions. Take, for instance, the practice of manifesting wishes or prayers using trees. This practice emerged in ancient times and continues to this day in many cultures all over the world. In Ireland it is common to find a tree growing near a holy well which has an assortment of rags or ribbons hanging from its branches. People tie these rags, known as clooties, to 'The Rag Tree' as symbols of their prayers and wishes.

Along with SULT Artists, the invited artists were Vera McEvoy, Hilary Kinahan, Mir Fitzgerald, Bríd Óg Norrby, Bríd Ní Rinn, Karen Hickey, Greg Hallahan and Angelina Foster.