First St Brigid 1500 light show to take place at the Square tonight in Dundalk

Epic, enchanting, spectacular, immersive and unforgettable – just some of the words being used to describe what to expect at ‘The Northern Lights – Brigid 1500’ festival.

Excitement has been building over the past number of weeks as a spectacular audio-visual installation got underway at Market Square in Dundalk.

With the countdown officially begun the first show will take place at 6pm on Wednesday January 31, followed by a second at 6.30pm, and the last show at 7pm.

Brigid 1500 is a programme of national and international events to commemorate Brigid of Faughart, pre-Christian Goddess and Matron Saint of Ireland.

Her feast day on February 1st has long symbolised hope, renewal and the Devine feminine, and this year also marks the 1500th anniversary of her death.

Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott explained: “When this initiative was first announced we knew that Louth, as Birthplace of Brigid, had a responsibility to not only breathe light and life into this very personal celebration for County Louth, but to lead the way creatively on the global stage.

“The Northern Lights - Brigid 1500 series is a monumental attraction befitting the Matron Saint of Ireland, this installation features up to 200,000 individual points of light and unique decorative symbols exclusively designed to represent the spirit of Brigid.

“Inspiration for the visual concept came directly from the iconic Brigid of Faughart mural created by Irish artist Friz in Dundalk in 2020, it has continued to inspire us in countless ways and was central to this design.”

Martin concluded: “The reaction from the public has been phenomenal, we expect large numbers to attend each of the free shows and invite you all to join us in celebrating St. Brigid. It really is a dream come true to see a project of this scale come alive in the heart of our town centre.”

Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council said: “We are delighted that after months of careful planning, the festivities are now getting underway, and welcome everyone to join us in celebrating the incredible legacy of St. Brigid of Faughart.

“The Brigid1500 celebrations are a hugely important milestone in our nation’s history, but are especially significant for County Louth, which as the birthplace of Brigid, is where her inspiring life story began.

“Louth County Council are very proud to lead this exciting festival of events and initiatives which showcase Louth’s vibrant cultural heritage, while commemorating the life and lasting impact of Brigid.”