There are calls for today to be made a public holiday in honour of St Brigid and those that have lost their lives to the coronavirus.
St Brigid’s Day is celebrated on February 1st every year – the first day of spring in the pre-Christian Gaelic calendar.
Brigid appears in Irish mythology as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the daughter of the Dagda and it is thought her story was later Christianised.
"Ahead of her time"
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the Minister of State for Research and Development Martin Heydon said St Brigid’s Day should be made a public holiday in Ireland.
“Brigid was ahead of her time,” he said. “A powerful leader who challenged people to create a Church and society where men and women were equally respected.
“I firmly believe that February 1st, St Brigid’s Day, should become a new public holiday in Ireland and I made that request of the Minister for Tourism and the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste for that to be considered because it would bridge the long gap between our public holidays on January 1st and March 17th.
“It would boost our tourism and hospitality sectors. It would be a public holiday celebrating a strong Irish woman whose powerful leadership inspired all that she encountered while also marking the very start of Spring.”
Coronavirus
He said the day could also be used to remember those affected by COVID-19.
“It would effectively be a public holiday where people would have the day off and there wouldn’t be schools and we would get to celebrate a strong Irish woman who was an inspirational leader of her time,” he said
“It would also mark, if we were to do this for the first time on February 1st next year, I think it would be a perfect day where we would remember all of those we have lost to COVID and the very difficult times that we have come out of – but with a bright future ahead, the bit of spring that is before us and a bit of renewal and regrowth.”
The President Michael D Higgins had this message to mark St Brigid’s Day this morning.
Today, on #StBrigidsDay, President Higgins says Ireland's only female patron saint offers an example and hope for the future.
Read or watch the President’s message for #LaFheileBride at https://t.co/xGTlTzRtoL pic.twitter.com/NLGJ7jElln
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) February 1, 2021
“Generations of Irish women have benefited from her inspiration and legacy,” he said.
“Today, as we recall her story with admiration, may we also resolve to seek inspiration her example to pursue her ideal of equality,” he said.
There have been calls throughout the pandemic for an extra bank holiday to boost tourism and hospitality; however, no firm plan has been announced.
These people in Dublin had mixed opinions on whether today should be a new public holiday.
“Sure absolutely, I would,” said one.
“Whatever public holiday we can get I’m happy with.”
“No, I think we have enough in the year as it is now,” said another.”
Those in support of the idea have said it would be a fitting way to recognise the sacrifices of the Irish people during the pandemic and highlight the hope ahead.
You can listen back to Newstalk's Talking History episode on St Brigid here:
