Join us on a soulful pilgrimage to Ireland’s St. Brigid Day Festival! Holy wells, ancient history, moody weather, Sister Rita and her open-hearted community make this a week you’ll never, ever forget!
Scroll through the slides below to find out if the Universe (Brigid?) is calling you here! Then sign up below!
Brigid 2026 Slides by Katie
What to expect:
Reserve your spot with a $500 deposit and pay the remainder in two further payments over the coming months.
This is not your typical tourist tour…NOTHING like it, really! These tours are personally curated by us, and we’ll be by your side. We never use travel agents, instead making all the arrangements ourselves. That way we can ensure authentic, eco-friendly, whimsical travel with local experts who take us off the beaten track. Time to soak up a place and to connect with real people is paramount! This will be our third time bringing a What’sHerName group back to Kildare. That’s high praise…we love this place!Â
Katie’s husband Marc has been dubbed our Smoothness Operator (aka: logistics man). (Katie and Marc designed and taught university Study Abroad courses for over a decade.) Marc is a chill, sweet guy who takes care of all the logistical headaches, transport and ticketing so we can all glide on without a care. Got history questions? Katie’s on hand with a thousand stories. Want to spend dinner talking feminist theory with someone who’s (finally!) as gung-ho about it as you are? Olivia’s your woman!
What’sHerName Tours create welcoming tribes where you are free to be yourself! We all abide by Rule #1: Do What You Want. That means you can always opt out of anything without judgement. You can expect to do a lot of laughing, standing in awe, happy-crying, and tasting wonderful things.
 Most folks come solo, so go for it! This is the happy tribe you’ve been looking for. After all, they’re all Nameiacs too!
$1630 INCLUDES:Â
- Tickets to all Brigid Festival events (TBA late 2025). These events typically include crafting and dancing workshops, poetry and music performances, guided walks, and more. Tix sell out quickly but our Smoothness Team keeps tabs for us, all year long!
- Historic Hotel, 6 nights, in Kildare town square and steps from the Cathedral
- Concert in the cathedral on St. Brigid’s Day
- A special gathering with Sister Rita Minehan, and a copy of her book
- A guided walk on St. Brigid’s “cloak” (pastures) with music and poetry
- A chance to volunteer and play a direct part in the festival (but no pressure!)
- History excursion day to Newgrange Neolithic Passage Tomb, Ancient Ireland’s famed Hill of Tara and Trim Castle , with Katie as your guide
- A large group donation to Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre
- A warm-hearted community of new BFFs
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Transport to and from Kildare. It’s an easy one hour bus from Dublin Airport, or Dublin city center!
- Meals
- Optional add-ons, shopping, free time activities
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Tell me more about the roomie situation.  If you’re traveling with someone, you can request them as your roomie (you both list each other on the registration form. If you’re traveling solo, we’ll match you with someone! Just enter your preferences (gender, etc) on the form which we do our best to fulfill. Many a lasting friendship has been made this way! You’ll have separate beds, and share a bathroom.
*Searching flights* Tell me everything I need to know before I book my flight!  You’ll want to arrive at Dublin Airport no later than 2 pm on January 30. From the airport you can take a direct bus (big coach, with a luggage compartment) to Kildare town in an hour. We will gather for our first meeting around 4pm on January 30. On departure day, Feb 5, leave whenever you like. Again. transport back to the airport takes about an hour by bus. If you choose an early flight, buses are slightly less frequent.
I’m keto/celiac/vegan/etc. Will I find things to eat?  Certainly! Kildare is becoming a sort of foodie destination with a huge variety of restaurants, pubs and cafes.
hopping. You know you best! A typical, basic business travel per diem is around $55/day, if that helps. The free breakfast at the hostel is hearty with wide-ranging options!
What if the trip gets canceled?Â
If we cancel the trip, you’ll get a full refund. If you have to cancel, you’d forfeit your $500 deposit, to help cover the expenses we’ve already paid in your name. If you were to cancel with very late notice, you may forfeit more than that. We will always try to get whatever refunds we can for you. If you’re worried about having to cancel, you could always get travel insurance after you pay for the tour.
How does payment work?
After you register, you’ll receive an invoice via email to pay your deposit with a card. It’s actually our sister, Meredith, who takes care of all registrations and does the invoicing! You’ll pay the remainder in two more payments, evenly spaced out between your time of registration and January. You could also choose to pay in full anytime you want. The full amount must be paid before departure, of course.
I want to go for it – but I’m a little nervous. Is this a crazy thing to do?
If it is, it’s GOOD crazy! Take the leap, you’ll have a heartwarming, unforgettable time.