Brigid 1500 Announce Spectacular Line-Up for Upcoming Kildare Festival

• Headliners include Una Healy, Denise Chalia, Imelda May, Darina Allen, Jess Murphy, Laura Whitmore, and Riverdance with a series of events from January 27th across Kildare

• Limited number of tickets set to go on sale on Jan 9th at 8am for intimate gigs

Brigid 1500 has today announced the line-up for the highly anticipated festival programme, hosted by Kildare County Council. The festival will celebrate and commemorate the extraordinary St Brigid, a woman, a life, a legacy and the enduring impact of her life as we reach the 1500th anniversary of her passing.

Set to take place across Kildare from January 27th and into February, the programme will bring together artists, performers, enthusiasts, communities and visitors to celebrate St. Brigid in a contemporary and modern way. The vast programme includes something for everyone with a fusion of culinary and visual arts and vibrant musical performances throughout the programme of free and ticketed events. 

Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, speaking on the launch said;  “This programme beautifully weaves together the rich tapestry of our cultural heritage, and we look forward to witnessing the magic it brings to Kildare, capturing the essence of St. Brigid’s legacy and the remarkable contributions of Irish women in the arts.”

The lineup includes renowned Irish musicians such as Imelda May, Denise Chaila, Moya Brennan, Eleanor McEvoy, Mary Coughlan, Camille O'Sullivan, Gemma Hayes, Una Healy, and many more as part of the Hot Press Nothing Compares event series. With Laura Whitmore poised to take the stage as the Master of Ceremonies for Nothing Compares In Concert at The Moat Theatre.

Tickets for this year's ticketed events go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, January 9th, via hotpress.com/nothingcompares. Given last year's rapid sell-out, the public is encouraged to act quickly due to the limited availability of tickets.

Hot Press Nothing Compares Event Line Up:

Saturday, January 27 - Mother Earth Food Symposium: A culinary delight with a host of talks, workshops and demonstrations featuring leading Irish women in food. 

Line-up: Dee Laffan, Karen Ward, Chantelle Nicholson, Holly Loftus, Catherine Cleary, Jess Murphy, Rose Green, Majken Bech-Bailey, Ali Dunworth, Darina Allen, Julia Hemingwayand Darcie Mayland.

Location: The Wonderful Barn, Leixlip. 

Time: 11am 

Saturday, January 27 - The Wonderful Barn Show: MOTHER EARTH: A star-studded show featuring songs on the theme of 'Mother Earth’. 

Line-up: Denise Chaila, Gemma Hayes, Una Healy, Róisín O and Tolü Makay

Location: The Wonderful Barn, Leixlip

Time: 8pm 

Tuesday, January 30 - We Shall Overcome:  A concert centred around songs of social justice and freedom.

Line-up: Eleanor McEvoy, Mary Coughlan, Pauline Scanlon, Jess Kav and Toshín

Location: Athy Library

Time: 8pm

Thursday, February 1 - Nothing Compares – In Concert: A night of extraordinary, genre-spanning music by Irish women. 

Line-up: Imelda May, HamsandwicH, Camille O'Sullivan, Niamh Regan, Nell Mescal and Laura Whitmore as MC

Location: The Moat Theatre, Naas

Time: 8pm

Sunday, February 4 - She Moves Through The Fair:  A special event featuring traditional and contemporary songs about Irish women. 

Line-up: Moya Brennan, Loah, Lisa Lambe and The Henry Girls, plus more to be announced.

Location: St Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare, 

Time: 8pm

On top of these events, there will be a plethora of free activities and performances across the county for tourists and locals alike:

HerStory light shows around the county at prominent locations in Clane, Newbridge, and Athy, including Naas Potato Market and the new Naas Library and Cultural Centre. 

LUXE Landscape Theatre will lead two grand fiery processional events to celebrate St Brigid, which will take place in the towns of Maynooth and Kildare over the bank holiday weekend. 

Riverdance is set to be a featured act at the family event at the scenic Curragh Racecourse on February 3rd. As part of the lineup, Riverdance will deliver a captivating performance alongside other acts that will be joining the festivities. The visual spectacle will combine dance and theatre while honouring the rich heritage of Ireland.

The full festival programme of events can be found on www.brigid1500.ie and Brigid 1500 social media channels.