Brigid – A Musical Celebration: Pittsburgh Irish Festival Announces New Event for 2023

Pittsburgh Irish Festival Announces New Event for 2023

Brigid – a Musical Celebration

Celtic Goddess and Patron Saint of Ireland

The team at the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh, the umbrella organization of the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, is pleased to announce a brand-new event, BRIGID, a musical celebration of Brigid, Celtic Goddess and Patron Saint of Ireland, on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the Rosemary Heyl Theatre in Antonian Hall at Carlow University.

The event, which has received support from the Government of Ireland’s Irish Emigrant Support Programme, will celebrate Brigid the Saint; Brigid the Goddess; be a celebration of Irish and Celtic Women; of light and Springtime; and it is a celebration of Irish and Celtic culture, including its history, its present, and its future.

“We couldn’t be more excited for this event and to raise awareness about Brigid,” said Mairin Petrone, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and President of the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh. “For so long, St. Patrick has been at the forefront of Irish celebrations, and while his contributions to Irish history and culture are significant and worthy, it is important that we also recognize St. Brigid and everything that she symbolizes for women for Ireland, and for Celtic history.”

Who Was Brigid?

St. Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints. She is celebrated annually in Ireland with the St. Brigid’s Feast Day on February 1, also referred to as Imbolc. Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring in Ireland, a movement from darkness into light. St. Brigid is the Patron Saint of poetry, beer, midwives, newborns, Irish nuns, blacksmiths, dairymaids, boatmen, learning, healing, protection, chicken farmers, cattle, scholars, sailors, and more. Brigid was also a Celtic Goddess, a Fire Goddess, and the Goddess of spring, light, life, fertility, physicians, and many others.

Event headliner, Eileen Ivers, said, “I’m beyond excited to be part of the live concert experience at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. What a special night it will be, honoring Ireland’s beloved female patron saint with other incredible female artists and musicians: RUNA, The Bow Tides, Ally the Piper, The Brigideens – whom I formed specifically for this event and headlining with Eileen Ivers and Universal Roots. Those in attendance will surely feel the light of St. Brigid emanating throughout the theater with this celebration of music, song, dance, and community in her name.”

Featured Performers

include the Grammy®-Awarded and Emmy-Nominated, Eileen Ivers, who will performing with her Universal Roots Band, and a powerhouse all-female band created especially for this event, The Brigideens. featuring Eileen Ivers, Caitlin Maloney, Hilary Hawke, Shannon Heaton, Anna Colliton, Colin Forhan; The Bow Tides, a Pittsburgh Irish Festival favorite band led by three female fiddle players, including Pittsburgher, Katie Grennan; Female-fronted, RUNA, who preserves traditional Celtic-American Roots while also pushing the boundaries of Irish folk music in the modern age; TikTok and Instagram famous, Ally Crowley-Duncan (aka PiperAlly), a multi-instrumentalist and singer with a specialty in bagpipes. Ally is the most followed bagpiper on social media; Bell School of Irish Dance; Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance.

Tickets for BRIGID are on sale at www.brigidpgh.com. The event is expected to sell-out, so the organizers recommend getting your tickets early. In the spirit of St. Brigid, a portion of the event proceeds will support the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

About the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh

The Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh d.b.a. The Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation created to contribute to the rich cultural awareness of Irish history and tradition that exists in Pittsburgh. In addition to our three-day Celtic Celebration, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival has expanded into a year-round resource for education and cultural programs through the creation of the Irish Education Outreach Program. Created in 1991, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival has gained recognition as an important presenter of Celtic culture due, in large part, to our highly successful festival and events like BRIGID. Just as the Festival has become one of the nation’s finest Irish American festivals, and certainly the most comprehensive exhibit of Irish music, lore, food, and dance in the region, the organization has also become one of the region’s most prominent producers of Irish programming. For more information, visit www.pghirishfest.org.