Tag: Brigid

Book launch, Collaboration, Writing News

The Red Book Of Kildare: Anthology Update

The editorial panel were honoured to have received over 500 submissions for the anthology. Thank you to everyone who trusted us with their work.

Since January, we have worked very hard, taking care in reading and re-reading/ re-viewing each submission and were buoyed by the wealth of artwork and writing which explored the themes in the call out:

personal responses to the themes of the sacred feminine, Brigid and the heritage of Kildare.

We have now contacted everyone who has submitted work and are looking forward to the next steps in working with the feminist press Arlen House. The anthology is due to be launched in October 2024 as part of Kildare Readers Festival and Brigid 1500 celebrations.

Thanks once again to Brigid 1500 and Kildare County Council for funding this project.

Keep her lit!

Collaboration, Contemplation, Exhibitions, Writer Interview, Writing Life, Writing News

St. Brigid’s Day Celebrations

I’m delighted to discuss Mantles: Encountering Brigid with Meath Libraries Executive Librarian Mary Murphy as part of Meath Libraries and Meath County Council St Brigid’s Day Celebrations. See YouTube below to watch our discussion which will premiere on Feb 1st 2022 at 6pm.

On the evening of February 1st, I will be talking about my research on Brigid, and Creative Ireland (Kildare County Council) funded project Mantles, to members of ATGI Tour Guides of Ireland.

Many thanks to Meath County Council and ATGI for the invitations!

Image of Cover of Mantles: Encountering Brigid

As part of my celebrations of Imbolc, Brigit and St Brigid, I will also be attending events and exhibitions and furthering my reading:

Wishing everyone a much healing, health, and heart this St Brigid’s Day and Imbolc.

Book launch, Collaboration, Writing Life, Writing News

MANTLES: Encountering Brigid (Arlen House: 2021, Dublin)

Cover of Mantles: Encountering Brigid. Art work showing rolling hills in various shades of green, by Margo McNulty.

I’m delighted to announce that Mantles: Encountering Brigid (Arlen House: 2021, Dublin) is published! It is currently exclusively stocked by Maynooth Bookshop (shortlisted for Irish bookshop of the year in the Irish Book Awards, winner of the Leinster category) – buy it here.

Margo and I are delighted with the critical praise so far:

“….thoughtful, evocative…the book is a rich meditation on folklore, tradition and contemporary experience.” Lia Mills, author of Another Alice

“This book will inspire many others to search out and walk in Brigit’s footsteps.” Mary Condren, ThD. author of The Serpent and the Goddess, and National Director, Woman Spirit Ireland.

“The interweaving of artworks by Margo McNulty with the writings of Shauna Gilligan can only be compared with the overlapping plaited strands of Brigit the Goddess and Brigid the Saint.” Clodagh Doyle, Keeper, Irish Folklife Division, National Museum of Ireland, Country Life, Mayo.

We were delighted to partake in Samhain @ Sult in Kildare Town on Wednesday 24th November, the first public reading from Mantles. It was wonderful to read surrounded by such inspiring artwork by Sult Collective and to be accompanied by live music from James Blennerhassett. We hope to mark the publication with another event soon!

This publication forms the final part of the Creative Ireland funded collaboration between myself and artist Margo McNulty.

We are grateful to Alan Hayes at Arlen House, our publishers, and Kildare County Council and Roscommon County Council, our funders.