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St. Brigid’s Lamp
In 1992 two Brigidine Sisters came to Kildare to reconnect with their roots and to reclaim Brigid in a new way for a new millennium. This led to the re-lighting of Brigid’s flame in Kildare Town Square in 1993 the flame burns, each year, during the week’s festival of ‘Feile Bride’- Brigid’s feast day. In 2005 the Kildare County Council commissioned artist Alex Pentek to create a sculpture that would permanently house the flame in Kildare Square. It consists of a twisted column, which flourishes at the top into large scale oak leaves, nestled inside is a bronze, acorn cup holding the flame. The oak is very symbolic to all Brigidine Sisters, their associates, friends and relatives, it is also the namesake of Kildare - Cill Dara meaning, ‘Church of the oak’. On February 1st, St. Brigid’s Day, 2006 the flame was perpetually lit in the town square from the flame tended by the Sisters in ‘Solas Bhride’.
On that day the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese performed the opening ceremony and presented the flame to the Brigidine Sisters, the people of Ireland and beyond. Today Brigid’s flame shines out once again as a beacon of light, hope and justice for our world.
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