The Brat Bríde Project in partnership with Butler Gallery celebrated Brigid the Goddess, the saint and the woman with a host of cultural and craft activities last weekend.
Cllr Maria Dollard opened the Brat Bríde Exhibition – Raising the Divine Feminine, with a display of goddess inspired prayer flags and 3 bespoke Brigid’s cloaks in the Gallery’s Learning Centre. Some 300 participants from around the world have contributed to the making of these Brats and Cloaks over the last 4 years, since the project’s inception in 2022.
Harpist Ruth Lydon, performed a lunchtime recital to a packed audience in the main gallery, and ecologist / craftswoman Monica Fleming taught the crowd how to make Brigid’s cross brooches under the much-welcomed sunshine outside the Gallery.
Michelle McMahon, Brat Bríde Project lead artist and creative producer, led an embroidery workshop in the learning centre. Participants embellished the green Mother Cloak with hedgerows, to highlight their role in protecting biodiversity.
There was a special showing of Eiru, Cartoon Saloon’s collaborative short film with HerStory Ireland in the Digital Gallery. The film aims to highlight the need for society to move from a domination style pattern to an inclusive partnership model.
Michelle would like to thank all those who have sponsored the project over the last 4 years, especially the Kilkenny One Parent Community women who have been helming the project alongside her.
