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Saturday 1st February
Imbolg Block Printing with Artist Michelle McMahon and the Brat Bríde Project
1-3pm at the Learning Centre
Join us on Saturday 1st February to celebrate the first of Spring, Imbolg and the Celtic goddess Brigid.
Create your own block print with Imbolg themed stamps, female deities and spring biodiversity plants on a piece of fabric to create a Brat Bríde to take home.
Traditionally, a Brat Bríde was a piece of cloth, usually red or white, that was left outside the house on Brigid's Eve to collect dew. The Brat was then believed to have curative powers, particularly against ailments throughout the year, like headaches and earaches.
We will have handkerchief fabric at the Learning Centre to print on - or you can bring your own piece of cloth, t-shirt or tote bag to up-cycle with Michelle's Imbolg themed block print stamps.
Please note that capacity at any one time is 8 persons for block-printing.
All ages welcome!
Imbolg or Imbolc is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring and it's traditional date is 1 February, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolg is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with: Bealtaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
Michelle McMahon is a contemporary, multimedia, visual artist based in south Kilkenny. Her work is primarily focused on print-making and painting. She draws much of her inspiration from nature and works in a non-toxic studio, using eco-friendly materials. Michelle is currently a studio technician and workshop facilitator at PrintBlock Callan, Workhouse Union.
Michelle has an MSc in Sustainable Development and endeavours to create art using sustainable practices. Her most recent body of work explores feminine themes of empowerment, such as goddess cultures and Sheela-na-gigs. She is passionate about equality and is currently facilitating lino print workshops for women's community groups, with the Brat Bríde Project - see Instagram page @brat_bride.
Accompanying WOL Collective Performance at 2pm and 3pm
Monica and Dunf from Kilkenny Folk Rock band, WOL Collective, will perform a new song composed for St Brigid’s Day called ‘Brigid Rising’. The song is based on a poem written by Monica Fleming about the spirit of Brigid coming to awaken the natural world from its winter sleep. It is also inspired by the old Irish air, Amhrán na Leabhair. This was then set to an original piece of music composed and played on guitar by Anthony Dunphy(Dunf).
WOL Collective formed two years ago to rework folk songs with an electric psychedelic feel and have played at the Kilkenny Roots Festival and at Yulefest Kilkenny. The members have worked together acoustically for many years, playing traditional Irish music on button accordion, guitar, mandolin, whistles and bodhrán.