Today February 1st is St. Brigid’s Day – Lá Fhéile Bríde – celebrating Ireland’s only female patron saint – the most popular tradition to mark the day is the making crosses from reeds in St Brigid’s honour.
The date has had huge significance down through the years in Ireland as it is associated with the Celtic festival of Imbolc, the festival of fertility and marked the beginning of Spring in Ireland.
It signalled an end to Winter and ushered in a new season of hope and growth.
Starting this year there is a new annual public holiday in early February to mark St Brigid’s Day.
The public holiday will be on the first Monday in February except in a year where St Brigid’s day (1 February) happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday 1 February will be a public holiday.
In 2023, next Monday February 6th , is now a public holiday and all schools are closed.
Most businesses and financial institutions will be closed. Public transport schedules are altered.
Bus Eireann is operating on Sunday schedule on Monday. Local link services will operate as normal – however there are no door to door services and the 828 service between Cashel and Portlaoise is on a Sunday Schedule.
The holiday was promised as part of the response to the efforts made during the pandemic especially by those working on the frontline.
