St. Patrick’s Parish Dundalk began the Triduum in honour of St. Brigid in 1982 under the care and direction of Mr and Mrs Paddy McCourt (R.I.P.) and Spiritual Director Fr. Paddy Larkin.

St. Brigid was born in Faughart, Dundalk Co. Louth.  Her father was a pagan chieftain who hoped she would marry a man of wealth.  It is believed her mother was a Christian and had a great influence on her.  From her earliest years Brigid was noted for her love for the poor and she is said to have often given away the food her family had for themselves.  Tradition says she also had a great love for animals.

There is great devotion to St. Brigid around Dundalk.  Many people visit her shrine at Faughart.  St. Brigid is said to cure many illness and particularly headaches.  There is a stone at Faughart with the shape of the crown of the head hollowed in it.  People who have headaches place their heads against this stone and pray for healing.  Many claim they have been healed.  In the year of the Lord’s Jubilee a new Angelus rings at twelve o’clock.  There is also a new luminous St. Brigid’s cross-erected at the shrine and when it gets dark it lights up.

Over the years the triduum at St. Nicholas’s flourished and in 1988 Ann and Jim Williams joined the team bringing with them their experience of making the green rush crosses.  Due to its popularity, sessions are held twice daily at 11 a.m. (with the anointing of the sick being held at the 11 am session on the 1st February) and again in the evening and 7 p.m. (with a guest speaker each evening and on the final night we have an outdoor candlelight procession around the streets of Dundalk) on the 30th, 31st of January and the 1st February in St. Nicholas’s Church, Bridge Street, Dundalk.

In 2007 the triduum went worldwide when it was viewed on the web of Dundalk FM.  Listeners at home can tune into LMFM radio and community radio Dundalk FM.

The people of Dundalk and the surrounding areas have taken the triduum to their hearts and it is only because of their support we have been able to carry on and improve each year.

The team would ask you to pray for the priests who have been our Spiritual Directors over the years and whose help, encouragement, and direction has been appreciated over the years:  Fr. P Larkin, Fr. P. McEnroe, Fr. Casey (Redemptorist), Fr. P Keenan, Fr. M. O Hagan.