Monasterevin Parish 
St. Brigid is reputed to have been born in the Townsland of Umeras. Just outside Monasterevin, Co. Kildare.
This Year a new Bank Holiday to honour St. Brigid was held on Monday 6th February 2023.
Monasterevin Parish organised a Camino Walk in honour of St. Brigid. Starting at St. Brigid’s Shrine at Monasterevin – Rathangan Road (414), Eircode: W34 X529, at 11.00am on Monday 6th February (walk is approx. 6km). Car parking was provided at Mountrice Cross.
Shuttle buses ferried people from Monasterevin to the beginning of the walk. The walk was led by Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin Diocese journeyed via Umeras along the New Canal Blue Way, finishing in Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church, Monasterevin with a Service of Light.
At the Service of Light in St. Peter & Paul Church two parishioners shared their experience of walking the St. Brigid’s Camino. Rachel Beattie, a first year student, spoke about how she experienced nature on the magnificent New Canal Blue Way. She also spoke of remembering people that she knew who had died. Eugene Nolan told of the conversations that he had with people as they walked the Camino. Bishop Denis Nulty shared how he had met many people from across the Dioceses on the walk. Dawn Broughan and John Hosey along with Pat O’Mara and Eugene Nolan provided some beautiful music during the ceremony of light.
4 symbols were brought to the altar representing St. Brigid:
A heart representing St. Brigid as a women of compassion.
Snowdrops representing St. Brigid as a woman of the earth who brings the spring.
St. Brigid’s cross representing St. Brigid as a woman of peace.
An apple tart representing St. Brigid as a woman of hospitality.
Third class school children sang ”Brigid brings the spring”. Sr Nineth from the Philippines shared about the effect of climate change in her country. Students from St. Paul’s Primary School Monasterevin who are participating in the John Paul II award shared 2 stories about St. Brigid. Candles were lit by people from Cuan Mhure who are struggling with addictions.
On and all the Camino walk it was a tremendous community occasion. Everyone enjoyed the occasion and afterwards enjoyed some treats and a cup of tea.
Over 1,000 people walked the Camino and were presented with a Camino Certificate at the end.
