Imbolc or Imbolg, also called Saint Brigid's Day, is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians it is the feast day of Saint Brigid, Ireland's patroness saint. It is held on 1 February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Historically, its traditions were widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with: Bealtaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
Kildare is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. As of 2016, its population was 8,634 making it the 7th largest town in County Kildare. The town lies on the R445, some 50 km (31 mi) west of Dublin – near enough for it to have become, despite being a regional centre in its own right, a commuter town for the capital. Although Kildare gives its name to the county, Naas is the county town.
Michael Daniel Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator from 1973 to 1977 having been nominated by the Taoiseach. Elected in 1981 as a Teachta Dála (TD), he represented the Galway West constituency from 1981 to 1982 and 1987 to 2011. Between these terms, he returned to Seanad Éireann from 1983 to 1987 as a senator for the National University. He served as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997 and mayor of Galway from 1981 to 1982 and 1990 to 1991. Higgins was the president of the Labour Party from 2003 to 2011, until he resigned following his election as president of Ireland.
The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in the Republic of Ireland including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990 and holds the record for the country's all-time biggest-selling single. On 15 February 2008, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards.
Hood are an English indie rock band from Leeds, formed in 1991. The band consists of brothers Chris and Richard Adams, and friends.
Paddy Tunney was an Irish traditional singer, poet, writer, raconteur, lilter and songwriter. He was affectionately known as the Man of Songs.
The Walls are an Irish rock band. They were formed in 1998 by two ex-members of The Stunning – brothers Steve and Joe Wall. Their debut album Hi-Lo was released in 2000 and included the singles "Bone Deep", "Something's Wrong" and "Some Kind of a Girl". The Walls supported U2 at their second show in Slane Castle in 2001. A number of songs from Hi-Lo featured in movies: Goldfish Memory, On the Edge, and Dead Bodies. In 2002 they released the single "To the Bright and Shining Sun", which was used on an Irish TV commercial and reached number 11 in the Irish Singles Chart. The subsequent album New Dawn Breaking (2005) included "To the Bright and Shining Sun" and three other singles: "Drowning Pool", "Passing Through" and "Black and Blue". The 2013 movie Begin Again starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo features "Drowning Pool" over the opening credits. The first track on the album "Open Road" proved a favourite with Nic Harcourt on his KCRW show Morning Becomes Eclectic and he invited the band to play a session on the show in 2006. They played SXSW in Austin, Texas, a few days beforehand. The following year the band travelled to Australia and played their first shows there, opening up for Crowded House on the latter's first reunion gigs. The Walls opened the shows in Sydney and Melbourne and also performed their own gigs in both of those cities. The band's third album Stop the Lights was released in 2012. In March 2013, the band played their first shows in Russia and performed live on the Evening Urgant show. They returned the following year.
Hybrasil are an Irish underground electronica group that formed in the seaside town of Wicklow, Ireland in 2004. The band are named after Brasil, a phantom island featured in many Irish myths. They have released two EP's to date and their debut album, The Monkey Pole, was released in September, 2007.
The Declining Winter is a British band based in Yorkshire, led by Richard Adams, the co-founder of the Domino Records group Hood. The band plays a unique form of pastoral pop taking in influences from lo-fi, electronica and post rock with a strong visual aesthetic inspired by the countryside of Yorkshire.
Fight Like Apes were an Irish alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 2006.
Jimmy Monaghan is an Irish musician from Belmullet, Ireland. He is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the anti-folk band Music for Dead Birds. He has also released music under different names including The Crytearions and Christian Bookshop.
Music for Dead Birds are an anti-folk band from Galway and County Mayo, Ireland. Its members are Jimmy Monaghan and Dónal Walsh (drums).
Phantom Dog Beneath the Moon are an Irish avant-folk/shoegaze band based in Galway, Ireland. They are singer/songwriter Aaron Hurley and multi-instrumentalist/composer Scott McLaughlin. Contributions have been made to recordings by percussionist Barry Hurley, Loner Deluxe, visual artist/vocalist Andrea Fitzpatrick, accordion player/keyboardist Anne Marie Deacy, trumpet player Ben Isaacs and clarinetist James Wood.
Swords are a three-piece band formed in 2010 from Dublin, Ireland consisting of Diane Anglim, Ian Frawley and Jarlath Canning. Swords have described themselves as an alternative band that blend guitars, synths, samples, drums, and piano hooks with haunting and intimate vocals. Some music writers have compared the band to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ane Brun, Portishead, Cat Power & Zola Jesus.
Pádraigín Máire Ní Uallacháin is an Irish singer-songwriter, academic, and former newsreader from County Louth, Ireland.
Reekus Records is an Irish independent record label and publishing company based in Dublin, founded by Elvera Butler in 1981. The label specializes in the promotion of mostly Irish rock and alternative music.
So Cow are an indie rock band from County Galway, Ireland. It was started as the recording project of Brian Kelly in 2005 in Seoul, South Korea. The group evolved into a three piece band with Jonny White on bass and Peter O'Shea on drums for 2014's The Long Con, released on Goner Records, as well as 2012's Out Of Season split album with Squarehead.
Overhead, The Albatross are an Irish instrumental post-rock band from Dublin.
Brigid Mae Power is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician.
Aaron Coyne, known professionally as Yawning Chasm, is an Irish alternative folk singer-songwriter from County Galway.
