Creative workshops with Ukrainian Community in Dundalk

As part of Brigid 1500 festival artists and facilitators Shauna and Louise Swords will be hosting creative workshops in an Tain for the Ukrainian Community in Dundalk.

The workshops will run during the St Brigid's Festival on 27 January and 3 Feb from 1.30 to 4.30 with a focus on family participation.

The first workshops focus on Brideog dolls which were doll-like figures of Brigid traditionally made from reeds or straw and sometimes butter churns or plastic.

Decorated with flowers or shells and covered in cloth, they might be left on a bed of straw to invite Brigid into the home to rest, have a seat of honour at the diner table, or be paraded around the village while reciting a poem and asking for a penny for the poor.

Shauna and Louise will reinterpret the Brideog doll in mixed media using fabric, clay, wire, wool and beads.

The girls, who are sisters, have experience of delivering creative workshop in a wide variety of settings including the Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival, the Knit and Stitch show, Dundrum Shopping centre, Bloom, Crafts Council of Ireland ( online during Covid ) and very much look forward to working with the Ukrainian Community in Dundalk .

“As relative newcomers to our country we feel the community should get to learn and experience our history and traditions and the Brideog dolls should be a fun experience for both young and old.”

These workshops are made possible with support by Louth County Council as part of the Brigid 1500 festival.