Enduring Flame: The Powerful Legacy of Brigid as Creative Inspiration with Molly Twomey

Course Summary

Please note that this is a seminar style course and no written feedback will be given.

Brigid is a powerful and adaptable spiritual figure whose legacy continues to evolve and shift in tandem with society. This seminar offers a condensed introduction to Brigid as a pagan goddess, and later, a Christian saint. We will delve into powerful contemporary poetry and art inspired by Brigid, fostering a deeper understanding of her cultural and historical significance. Participants will be encouraged to create new work, weaving their own threads into the tapestry of Brigid’s story.

Course Outline

This two-and-a-half-hour seminar will introduce participants to Brigid, exploring ancient stories that illuminate her courage, empathy, and compassion. We will reflect on how these old tales relate to our contemporary lives. We will relish modern poetry and art inspired by Brigid from poets such as Leland Bardwell and Seamus Heaney. We will begin to draft our own pieces, using the powerful and enduring legacy of Brigid as inspiration.

Course Outcomes

Participants will gain a deeper sense of personal connection to the multifaceted figure Brigid. They will discover new ways of thinking about heritage, story and mythology, coming away with a wellspring of inspiration for their creative practice.

Molly Twomey grew up in Lismore, County Waterford. Her first collection, Raised Among Vultures, was published in 2022 by The Gallery Press. It won the Southword Debut Collection Poetry Award and was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Poetry Prize for Best First Collection. Her work has appeared in New England Review, Poetry Review, Poetry Ireland Review, Banshee, The Irish Times, Mslexia, The Stinging Fly and elsewhere. She was awarded the 2023 Ireland Chair of Poetry Bursary.