Pictured above is Bishop Denis Nulty (centre) with the sacred reclic of St Brigid at Kldare Parish Church alongside Caothaoirleach Cllr Daragh Fitzpatrick, Sr Rita Minahen (Brigideen Sister), Sr Phil O'Shea (Brigideen Sister), Theresa Kilmurray (Brigidine Conregational Leadership Team), Fr Andy Leahy (PP Kildare Town) and Francesco Rodriquez (PP Lumiar) at Kildare Parish Church Photos by Aishling Conway. The sacred relics of Saint Brigid have returned to County Kildare and have come home to the county after nearly a millennium. Hundreds of pilgrims and locals gathered at St. Brigid’s Parish Church in Kildare Town on Sunday (28 th of January) to see the rare relics of the beloved patron saint of Kildare and Ireland. The relics were brought to the church by way of a formal procession which made its way from Solas Bhride Centre in Tully outside Kildare Town to the church. Three primary school girls on horseback, Evie Holohan (12) and Aela Twomey (12) from St. Brigid’s Primary school together with 12-year-old Elsa Mai Walsh of Ballyshannon National School led the procession. All three girls are in the Kildare Pony Club and were dressed in long cloaks to represent St. Brigid and the three knights that originally brought her relic from Ireland to Portugal. Theresa Kilmurray of the Brigidine Congregational Leadership Team carried thesacred relics and was also accompanied by members of the Kildare Ladies GAA football team and some of the Brigidine nuns. People gathered on either side of the road, keen to be blessed by St. Brigid as her relics passed by while a huge crowd waited outside the church which was already packed from early that morning. The Bishop of Kildare; Leighlin, Bishop Denis Nulty stood outside, waiting patiently for the procession to arrive and formally accepted the sacred relics on the steps of the church from Theresa Kilmurray. Once inside the church, the bishop carefully brought the relic to a niche in the church where it was placed on a purpose-built display plinth. Mass was then
PHOTO GALLERY: Relics of St Brigid welcomed home to Kildare by Mayor, Bishop, Minister and special guests
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin is presented with a St Brigids Cross by Áine Mangan (CEO INTO Kildare) PHOTO - AISHLING CONWAY
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Theresa Kilmurray (Brigidine Conregational Leadership Team) and Bishop Denis Nulty with the Sacred Relic of St Brigid at Kildare Parish Church PHOTO - AISHLING CONWAY
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David Mongey (Chairman INTO Kildare), Sr Rita Minahen (Brigideeen Sister), Áine Mangan (CEO INTO Kildare) and Chloe Kimmins (INTO Kildare) at Kildare Parish Church PHOTO - AISHLING CONWAY
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Elsa Mai Walsh (12), Evie Holohan (12) and Aela Twomey (12) from Kildare Pony Club led the procession of the relics of St.Brigid to Kildare Parish Church PHOTO - AISHLING CONWAY
