St Brigid's Day

This St Brigid’s Day, we are celebrating Ireland’s pioneering women!

Discover more at https://www.ireland.com

Fast facts:

1. St Brigid

When St Brigid was freed from slavery by the King of Leinster, she asked him for land in County Kildare to build a convent, requesting only as much land as her small cloak could cover. The king laughed at her humble favour and accepted – however, Brigid and her followers stretched the cloak all across the plains of Kildare! To this day, these plains are often called St Brigid’s Pastures.

2. Lady Mary Heath

A Limerick native and pioneering aviator, Lady Mary Heath set many records in her lifetime. One of her stand-outs was becoming the first person ever to fly from Cape Town to London in 1928!

3. Grace O’Malley

As a child, young Grace disguised herself as a boy to board one of her father’s ships. She went on to become a powerful chieftain herself, and was known as Ireland’s Pirate Queen. Her legend lives on in her hometown of Westport in County Mayo.

4. Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Hailing from Lurgan in County Armagh, Jocelyn Bell Burnell is one of the island of Ireland’s most distinguished scientists. In 1967, Jocelyn discovered a new type of star, known as the pulsar star.

5. Sinéad Burke

A writer, broadcaster and activist, Sinéad encourages the fashion industry to be fully inclusive, and was named by British Vogue as one of its 25 most influential women!

6. Eimear Noone
A late entry to our pioneering women list is the news that Galway-born Eimear will be the first ever female conductor at the Oscars 2020 ceremony! Good luck, Eimear!

For more information about Ireland and its other legendary figures and locales, go to www.ireland.com

---------------------------------------------

Join the conversation on our social channels:
https://www.facebook.com/Ireland
https://www.instagram.com/tourismireland
https://twitter.com/TourismIreland
https://www.pinterest.ie/TourismIreland