Join in St Brigid's Day celebration in Brideswell

A community celebration of the four main Celtic festivals at Hilliside Organic Farm, Brideswell is the focus of a brand new Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm documentary series.

The Winter Solstice is the subject of the first programme of the exciting ‘Ciorcal Celtic’ series, a four-part bi-lingual documentary to be aired on Tuesday, January 28 next on Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm from 6pm to 6.30pm.The programmes are supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The free event on December 21 last saw locals gather to celebrate the shortest day of the year, an important day in the Celtic calendar at the organic farm in Brideswell.

Facts and rituals connected to the winter solstice were presented by the hosts, Sean and Helen Butler, and traditions were discussed and exchanged by more than dozen other guests who also sang ‘The Holy and The Ivy song’.

Tune in next Tuesday to hear more about the traditions of the wren and candle in the window, to hear storytelling, an original poem in Irish about the winter solstice by Eugene McGivern and music by Fionnuala O’Connell.

“Drawing on the customs and traditions of our Celtic ancestors is a powerful antidote to the materialistic treadmill that is the 21st century lifestyle. We need to stand back occasionally and immerse ourselves in a more reflective and holistic take on our experience. What better way than to learn about the great Celtic festivals and to re-enact some of the great Celtic rituals,” one of the main contributors, Johnny Johnston, a storyteller, singer and Irish language speaker and teacher from Ballinasloe enthused about the new documentary series.

Another celebration will take place at the South Roscommon farm to mark St Brigid’s Day on February 1, the feast of Imbolg, Bealtaine in May and Halloween or Samhain in October as part of the ongoing radio series.

The public is invited to get involved, come along to the free events, and learn about their Celtic heritage at Hillside Organic Farm. For more information, call Sean Butler on 086 602 1962.

The next three parts of the series willbe broadcast two weeks after the celebrations on Tuesdays from 6pm to 6.30pm.

Athlone Community Radio’s documentary is supported by Sound and Vision Broadcasting Scheme, and is produced and edited by Irena Cvetkovic.