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 2027 Slides by Katie
Reserve your spot with a $500 deposit, and pay the remainder in two further payments over the coming months.
What to expect:
This tour was inspired by Katie’s first visit to Kildare, when she found the Solas Bhride Center almost by accident, and recorded THE BRIDGE Brigid of Kildare with Sister Rita Minehan. This will be our fourth time bringing a What’sHerName group back to Kildare. That’s high praise…we love this gently magical festival of the divine feminine!Â
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!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!
$1650 per person, with a roommate. For your own room, add $440.
INCLUDES:Â
- Tickets to all Brigid Festival events (TBA late 2026). These typically include a Brigid’s cross weaving workshop, world class music performances, poetry and literature nights or book talks, a guided walk on St. Brigid’s pastures, morning reflection/meditation sessions, and more. Tickets to all these 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 (site of St. Brigid’s monastery and eternal flame)
- An unforgettable fire night parade
- Climbing the highest medieval round tower in Ireland
- Magical candlelight pilgrimage from one holy well to the other, led by the Brigidine Sisters on St. Brigid’s Eve
- Concert in the cathedral on St. Brigid’s Day
- A special gathering with Sister Rita Minehan, and a copy of her book
- A chance to volunteer and play a direct part in the festival (but no pressure!)
- Excursion to the historic Quaker village of Ballitore, birthplace of Lydia Shackleton, with a visit to Mary Leadbeater‘s house, Ballitore Library & Quaker Museum
- A large group donation to Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre
- A warm-hearted community of Seekers like yourself
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. Most folks come solo, so don’t sweat it! We’ll match you with a roomie. Just select your gender preferences on the registration 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 more details about the timing of 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 celiac/vegan/keto/etc. Will I find things to eat? Certainly! Kildare is becoming a foodie destination with a huge variety of restaurants, pubs and cafes.
How much should I budget for meals and extras? So hard to say. Your food options will range from a big box grocery store to farm-to-table fine dining. We tend to eat a lot at the pubs and restaurants in the town square, which typically amount to about $25 per person. Shopping-wise, there is also a huge range: from the designer outlet mall on the outskirts of town, to little thrift shops in town center. You know you best! A typical, basic business travel per diem is around $55/day, if that helps.
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 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 should pay for the trip in full (just request to pay all at once), then get travel insurance.
How does payment work?
After you register, you’ll receive an invoice via email to pay your deposit with a card. You’ll pay the remainder in two more payments, evenly spaced out between registration and January. You could also request to pay all at once. 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.