February 2015: Official Opening of Solas Bhríde

The official opening of the new Ecological Centre took place on 30th January 2015, St Brigid's Weekend, were special guests included Eimear Quinn (Eurovision Song Contestant), Mayor Fiona O'Loughlin, Bishop Denis Nulty, Kildare & Leighlin and Rev. John Marsden, Dean of St. Brigid's Cathedral.

The tape cutting ceremony was followed by a musical celebration which included music, song and dance as guests were entertained by Eimear, Luka Bloom and local musicians and dancers.

Tributes were paid to the Design team which included Brian O'Brien of Solearth Ecological Architecture who designed the unique ecologically sustainable Spirituality Centre, in the shape of a St. Brigid's cross, with the centre of the cross featuring an internal garden and circular and semi-circular rooms, Manley Construction Ltd. who built the Centre and have already received two national awards for the building. A special acknowledgement to the Quantity Surveyor, George Fitzpatrick, Gilltown, Kilcullen, for delivering the project within budget.

The Centre which was designed and constructed to offer education, ecology, spirituality and healing to the general public was handed over to the Brigidine Sisters last Summer, and involved sustainable technologies and energy efficient design approaches placing a high priority on the creation of a healthful and restful environment for its end users and visitors.

Solas Bhríde achieved an A-rating for energy efficiency, quite a success given the dispersed nature of the design, which is laid out to maximise connections to landscape, sun and monumental landmarks.

Manley Construction would like to wish the Brigidine Sisters every success with the new Centre!