To celebrate the Irish traditional festival of Brigid's Day, the Embassy of Ireland and the Irish Mammies in NZ warmly welcome women and girls of all ages to a special online gathering to Celebrate Brigid's Day.
In Ireland, the first of February marks the beginning of Spring and the celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde, St Brigid’s Day, Ra O Hato Brigid. Like many of Ireland’s other feast days, Brigid's roots lie in the Celtic festival of Imbolc, the feast of the goddess Brigid, celebrated at least five millennia ago. In old Irish, Imbolc means "in the belly", a reference to lambing and the renewal Spring promises.
Brigid was a triple goddess – of healing, fire, and of poetry – and the saint who took her name, born in 450 AD, carried some of those same associations. The patron saint of poets and midwives, by legend, she maintained a sacred fire by the monastery she founded in Kildare. Alongside St Patrick and St Columcille, she is also one of Ireland’s three patron saints.
Her name can be translated as “the exalted one”. And, over recent years, her festival has come to be a exaltation of Irish women. Ireland’s diplomatic network, in partnership with local communities, host a series of festivals each February celebrating the contribution Irish women have made across the world.
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For the eve of the Ireland vs All Blacks Rugby Test in Dublin, the Embassy of Ireland in Aotearoa New Zealand, Friends of Ireland & the Irish Business Network NZ have teamed up for a unique video featuring Kevin ‘Smiley’ Barrett, the father of three All Blacks, Dick Spring, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland & rugby international and Mike Brewer, Dougie Howlett, Bernie McCahill & Mick Quinn, retired greats of the game, sharing a story or two about the rivalry on & the strong friendships that have endured off the pitch. And lots more besides, including a Haka in County Monaghan! The perfect warm-up for the big game.
Kia Manawanui – Beir Bua.
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Friends of Ireland are sending Aroha from Aotearoa to the Aviva
A collection of photos gathered from all over Aotearoa, New Zealand which will be displayed at the Aviva during the game .
Join the Embassy of Ireland and Irish Mammies NZ in hosting award winning Chef Jess Murphy of Kai, Galway for a virtual baking and cocktail making tutorial.
To mark Samhain this year, we’ve made an Apple Tart with Miso Butterscotch, paired with a Spiced Apple Whiskey Sour Cocktail. You're welcome to cook alongside Jess in your own kitchen, or you can just sit back, relax and enjoy watching and learning!
If you wish to bake and make cocktails alongside Jess Murphy, these are the ingredients you'll need:
Apple Tart with Miso Butterscotch
For the pastry:
• 225g (8oz) butter
• 40g (1 1/2oz) castor sugar
• 2 eggs, preferably free range
• 350g (12oz) white flour, preferably unbleached
For the filling:
• 675g (1 1/2 lbs) Bramley Seedling cooking apples – or another type of bitter apple
• 150g (5oz) sugar
• 2-3 cloves
• Egg wash, made with one beaten egg and a dash of milk
• Castor sugar for sprinkling
Miso Caramel :
• 100grams butter
• 100grams Muscovado sugar
• 200mls cream
• 1/2 tsp white miso (Generic not funky)
• Pinch of Salt
To serve:
• Softly whipped cream
• Barbados/dark muscovado sugar
Spiced Apple Whiskey Sour Cocktail
- 2 oz Whiskey
- 3oz Apple Cider
- 1 Juice of lemon
- Pinch of Cinnamon , cloves (or whatever you’ve got in the back of the cupboard since 1987)
- 1 Jar with lid for shaking
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Thanks for joining us for our festive Samhain baking fun!
October 2021
To mark International Women’s Day, the Embassy of Ireland in Aotearoa, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland Youth Council.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the achievements of girls and women and reflect on issues which continue to prevent us from achieving real and lasting gender equality. In an age of campaigning for social justice, often spearheaded by younger generations, we will hear from a number of incredibly inspiring women and will ask how we can all collectively support the younger generation in support of social change.
“I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system.”
Mary Robinson
March 2021
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