Celebrating St Brigid and 50 Years of Pottery at Kylemore Abbey

Join Kylemore Abbey in celebrating the second national St. Brigid’s bank holiday weekend with traditional crafts, music, and a celebration of over 50 years of Pottery in Kylemore Abbey.

From 11am on Saturday 3rd of February, Kylemore Abbey will be joined by Basket Weaver, Michael Joyce. Michael will be demonstrating the traditional craft of basket weaving and sharing his passion and history of the craft with visitors over the course of this bank holiday weekend.

Throughout the weekend, Kylemore Abbey will host further celebrations across the estate! On Saturday 3rd from 1pm, join local singer and songwriter, Eileen Keane, for enchanting stories and songs in the beautiful surrounds of the neo-Gothic Church, as Eileen plays old favourites and shares tales of old Ireland and St. Brigid. Sunday, harpist Lynn Saoirse will fill the neo-Gothic Church with serene harp melodies at 1pm.

The weekend will see another celebration on the estate, as Kylemore Abbey commemorates over 50 years of handmade Pottery in Kylemore Abbey. Established by Sr. Agatha Martin, operated for many years by local potter, Mary Staunton, and now taking the reins, is potter and past pupil, Gemma Coyne designing The Reflections Range in 2023. Pottery in Kylemore Abbey has seen generations of talented women throughout the years. The Reflections Range which launched last June, depicts the contrast between the structured form of the castle and the soft blue of Pollacappul Lake. The Reflections Range, a handcrafted and made-to-order collection will be available to order in-store the Kylemore Abbey Craft & Design Shop this bank holiday weekend.

As patron Saint of Catholic nuns in Ireland, it is only fitting that St. Brigid’s bank holiday weekend would mark the opening of registration for the upcoming, ‘Keepers of the Sacred Flame’, Symposium hosted by Kylemore Abbey. The one-day free Symposium will take place at the beginning of Spring, March 6th. The free event will commemorate the history of nuns and female monasticism, marking the book launch of ‘Brides of Christ: Women and Monasticism in Medieval and Early Modern Ireland’ by former abbess, M. Máire Hickey OSB, Kylemore Abbey. Tap here to visit EventBrite.com and reserve a spot for this free Symposium.

Kylemore Abbey and the Kylemore Craft & Design Shop are open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm. Find out more at www.KylemoreAbbey.com