Maynooth University and Kildare County Council Come Together to
Host Historic ‘Brigid’s Worlds’ Conference
Celebrating the Legacy of St Brigid
07 August 2024: This September, Maynooth University and Kildare County Council are uniting to host the ‘Brigid’s Worlds’ conference. Taking place on the 13th and 14th of September, the conference will bring together leading academic experts on St Brigid for the first time in nearly two decades, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the historical origins of St Brigid and her Church of Kildare.
This event marks the 1500th anniversary of St Brigid’s passing and aims to bring together scholars and enthusiasts to delve into the rich heritage of one of Ireland's most popular patron saints.
‘Brigid’s Worlds’ will explore the life and times of St Brigid and her Church of Kildare from the 5th to the 9th centuries, and feature a lineup of distinguished speakers from across the globe curated by Maynooth University’s Dr Niamh Wycherley (Department of Early Irish), including academics and experts such as Professor Catherine McKenna from Harvard University, Professor David Stifter from Maynooth University, Professor Thomas Owen Clancy from the University of Glasgow and many more. Each speaker brings distinct insights and expertise to explore the profound legacy of St Brigid and her Church of Kildare.
Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, commented, "We are delighted to collaborate with Maynooth University on this significant event, which not only celebrates the life of St Brigid but also highlights the importance of preserving our cultural heritage through academic discussion and community engagement".
Maynooth University President, Professor Eeva Leinonen, added, “We are proud to host this conference in September and welcome guests from near and far to explore St Brigid’s remarkable legacy. With our research focus on Heritage, Culture, and Language, Maynooth University has deep expertise in this area, and we look forward to the exchange of ideas and opportunities this event will bring”.
Maynooth University Professor David Stifter, also stated, “This conference brings together several major strands of research carried out at Maynooth’s Department of Early Irish on topics that exert a fascination wide outside of academia: the religious and intellectual history of early medieval Ireland and the earliest written tradition in Irish in the form of the ogham script”.
Brigid 1500 is a comprehensive programme organised by Kildare County Council aimed at celebrating and commemorating the life and legacy of St. Brigid.
Brigid’s World takes place in Maynooth University Friday, 13th and Saturday, 14th September. For more information and registration details for the ‘Brigid’s World’ conference, please visit www.brigid1500.ie.