St Brigid's Day/ Lá Fhéile Bríde/ Imbolc.

Imbolc or Imbolg, also called Saint Brigid's Day, is an Irish Celtic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians it is the feast day of Saint Brigid, Ireland's only female patron saint. It is held on the 1st of February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

This is the only Irish public holiday named after a woman. St Brigid’s Day provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge the critical role that women have played in Irish history, culture and society.
In Celtic mythology, Brigid was a triple goddess – of healing, fire, and of poetry – and the Christian saint who took her name, born in 450 AD, carried some of those same associations as the patron saint of poets and midwives. This bank holiday carries a dual opportunity to recognise the role of women through our arts and cultural heritage.