This Saturday marks St Brigid's Day and, contrary to the recent stormy and wintry weather that left the country battered and bruised, the conventional beginning of spring.
Tradition holds that Ireland's iconic matron saint was born at sunrise on 1 February 452 in Faughart, just north of Dundalk, Co Louth.
To commemorate the birth and legacy of St Brigid, whose life was characterised by healing, fertility, poetry and care for the land, a celebration will take place in the county this weekend, coinciding with Ireland's most recently introduced public holiday.
The events over the long weekend will range from traditional cross-making and spiritual pilgrimages to more modernistic light shows.
The weekend will kick off with the opening of an art exhibition at the Downtown Hub in Dundalk on Friday evening, which will feature the works of ten artists inspired by St Brigid's legacy and symbolism.
A number of the events over the weekend have been organised as part of the Brigid of Faughart Festival.
On Saturday morning, St Brigid's Day itself, all ages are welcome to learn how to weave the iconic Brigid's Cross and the Crios Bríd, (Brigid's belt) at An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk.
That evening at 6pm, the Northern Lights multi-sensory light show will illuminate Dundalk’s Market Square in celebration of St Brigid.
The impressive display, choreographed to music, is said to intertwine historical, cultural and spiritual elements with technology. The show will take place for a second time on Sunday evening.
On Sunday morning, the Brigid’s Way Celtic Pilgrimage gets underway at St Brigid’s Holy Well on the Hill of Faughart and continues through to Brigid’s Stream in Dundalk. Highlights include rituals such as a Brigid Water Blessing and the storytelling of Brigid’s myths and legends.
The highlight of the weekend for many will be the Faughart Candlelit Procession on Sunday evening, starting at St Brigid's Shrine and concluding at Faughart Graveyard.
Organisers say the ancient-style candlelit procession is open to people of all faiths and none and will be led by robed figures, a lone drummer and local schoolchildren.
It culminates at the Hill of Faughart with a fire-lit motte, candlelit ruins and Gregorian chant, honouring Brigid's connection to Co Louth and her legacy as a Celtic goddess and Ireland's matron saint.
Bank Holiday Monday will see tours of Faughart's sacred sites being offered by local historian and horticulturist Roisin Cotter, starting at Faughart Old Graveyard and concluding 1km later at St Brigid's Shrine.
Meanwhile, those just passing through or with less spare time on their hands over the long weekend are invited to pick up a copy of the Brigid's Trail Map and Guide, which highlights key sites, including the Brigid of Faughart mural in Dundalk, St Brigid's Shrine and the Holy Well in Faughart.
This map and guide is available from the local tourist office or can be downloaded from the Visit Louth website, which also lists the full details about all of the events mentioned above.
St Brigid's Day was originally a pre-Christian festival called Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring in the Celtic calendar, or the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
For many across the country this bank holiday weekend, they will be hoping the feast day of Ireland's matron saint marks the start of brighter days to come.
