Laois woman stars in Brigid's Day celebration

Laois poet Laura Murphy was among a stellar lineup at a special celebration of women’s contributions to Irish music and culture as part of the Brigid's Day celebration.

Nothing Compares: A Celebration of Irish Women Artists was organised by Hot Press magazine and Kildare County Council to celebrate Brigid’s Day as a new public holiday.

Portlaoise woman Laura Murphy, the Herstory Poet in Residence, is one of the key players in the Brigid’s Day campaign. She performed performed a tribute poem to Brigid. As was customary in pre-Christian Ireland, Laura in her role as Poet officially honoured President Michael D. Higgins and First Woman Sabina by dedicating her poem ‘Is Mise Bríd’ to them as ‘embodiments of Brigid’.

“I use an ancient practice from the poets of Ireland called Imbas Forosnai when writing. It is an old Irish term which means ‘inspiration that illuminates’. It was a gift of the Goddess Brigid. The poets of Ireland used to honour Brigid to draw down poetic inspiration so that their words would be infused with wisdom and illumination to help the high kings lead in right-relationship with the people and the land.

“I would like to dedicate ‘Is Mise Bríd’ to Sabina Higgins and her husband President Michael D. Higgins who are the embodiments of Brigid on this land at this time. They are leaders that we all can aspire to be. The people of Europe and the world can look to our leaders, here in Ireland, for inspiration. This is a thanks for leading the way with imbas and grá, compassion, truth and inspiration. What a momentous day for Ireland,” she said.

Sabina and Laura embraced as the audience roused in joyous applause. Sabina, a lifelong activist and champion of women’s rights reflected upon the power of the poem in her address.

“We are privileged to be all here together for what has been the most wonderful evening inaugurating Brigid. We had the presence of the Goddess herself with the blessing that was going on around us when Laura Murphy was doing her performance. It was on a par with the Song of Amergin. All of nature. It wasn’t just a spiritual Goddess, it was all of Earth. It was Gaia herself and Earth. It filled us all with love and blessing. 

"It was echoed in so many of the other songs and great performances. It has been a wonderful, memorable night. Thank you Hot Press and everybody,” she said.

WATCH: Laois woman stars in a powerful tribute to St Brigid

Mairin Sheehy, co-founder of Hot Press, organised and ran the event  which also featured performances by Imelda May, Eleanor McEvoy, Tolu Makay, Susan O’Neill, Mary Stokes, Megan O'Neill, Gemma Dunleavy.

“Nothing Compares: A Celebration of Irish Women Artists really was a very special occasion, full of powerful and moving performances from all of the artists. It was exactly the kind of beautiful moment we had hoped would happen, when Herstory poet-in-residence Laura Murphy and Sabina Higgins embraced in a spontaneous gesture of affection and respect onstage. It turned out to be a night full of gorgeous, emotional moments that the people who were in the audience will cherish forever – making it a truly fitting celebration of the inspirational spirit of Brigid," she said.

When actress Siobhán McSweeney asked in the RTÉ documentary “Are there any modern day Brigids?”, Laura Murphy answered “Yes, our last three presidents - Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese and Michael D. Higgins. Because men can be embodiments of Brigid too.” 

Laura Murphy is a poet, activist and communications strategist whose work is centred around the ancient Irish poetic practice of ‘Imbas Forosnai’ which means ‘inspiration that illuminates’.  

Laura’s work has been featured in the critically-acclaimed production ‘Home: Part One’ by the Abbey Theatre, the Herstory Light Shows and most recently in the campaign to make Brigid’s Day a national holiday.