The sacred fire Solas Bhride ('the Light of Brigid') re-lit in 1993 by the Brigidine Sisters, Co Kildare. Each St. Brigid's Day the town hosts a week-long celebration in honour of their saint founder.

An Irish legend tells of how St Brigid aided the Virgin Mary in presenting Jesus at the temple by distracting the crowd with a headdress bearing many lighted candles. In gratitude, Mary decreed that a feast day honouring Brigid should take place a day before Candlemas.

In medieval Ireland winter and spring comprised the quieter half of the year.

During the cold months war-making ceased and the people took to housing and feeding the warrior-bands. Great effort was made to ensure a varied diet by hunting, fishing and preserving.

"Marriages in early Ireland tended to be concentrated between Twelfth Night (5 Jan) and Shrove Tuesday.."

The links between the Imbolc spring festival, birth and marriage -

In the 16-17th centuries the coming of spring heralded the majority of trade between Ireland and England. Shiploads of animal products would leave Ireland for the port of Bristol, returning home with necessities like dyes, fabrics, salt & sugar.

"If i was willing to serve Mass, it was in memory of my ancestors standing around a rock, in a lonely glen, for fear of the landlords and their yeomen" - Brendan Behan

On This Day 1848: John Mitchel published 1st United Irishman. Only 16 editions, as suppressed under Treason Felony Act (1848). He was sentenced to 14 years in Van Diemen's Land. (Escaped after 5 years & spent 2 decades in US being pro-slavery, before returning to Ireland. Died in Newry.

This day 330 years ago – 13 February 1689 – Prince William of Orange and his wife Mary II were declared joint sovereigns of England, Ireland and Scotland.

The previous king, James II, had fled to France the December before.

This deposition led to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Boyne

St Valentine's Tomb - Whitefriar Church, Dublin.

Gifted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836, the casket contains Saint Valentine's bones and a vessel tinged with his blood.

The shrine of St Valentine in Dublin - On Valentines Day it's popular for engaged couples to attend Mass here and to receive a blessing of rings beside his relics.

The Claddagh ring is a traditional faith ring that's given in Ireland for engagement or friendship. Originating in the fishing villages of Galway, its 'giving heart' symbolises love and fellowship, and the crown, loyalty.