South Kerry VTOS/ Pathways Learners participate in The Killorglin Biddy’s Day

Parade on the feast of Saint Bridget

Joe Brennan

The basic principles of adult education have always been about much more than just gaining a qualification or completing a course. Those principles have been about personal development, community development, and empowerment, supporting learners to live their best lives and participate fully in their communities. In Killorglin VTOS/Pathways, we have always been committed to the learning society.

This has always been a challenge, but for the Ukrainian students who arrived in Ireland and located in Killorglin and its environs in the spring and summer of 2022, it’s a particular challenge. Clearly, it’s our job to teach language skills. It is also our job to teach something about the culture of the country.

Killorglin is a small, ancient town with a lot of history. During our formal and informal sessions on Irish culture at the centre, the learners developed a knowledge and appreciation of this place they temporarily call home. Although best known for Puck Fair, the other big Killorglin tradition is participating in the Biddy’s Day Parade and associated events.

On February first, St Brigid’s day, the locals Biddy’s group celebrate the old Celtic festival of Imbolc. This year’s parade, the first after Covid, was widely anticipated. Our learners responded gladly to the call for volunteers.

As the Killorglin Pipe Band and the pike men with the flaming torches led the parade of giant paper mache sculptures representing the milk and honey of the spring, along with the various Biddy groups and musicians in their red and white suits, sashes and straw hats, across Laune bridge, up the hill to Library Place, we were proud that some of those sculptors were carried by our Ukrainian learners.

They engaged first-hand in this local community initiative, and we learnt that they, too, have a Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday custom in Ukraine where giant straw figures are burnt.

Most of all, they just enjoyed themselves. They appreciated the music, dancing and fun with their friends and neighbours and a community that welcomed and embraced them since their arrival. Seeing them converse in English and mix with all of the others in this community initiative gave the staff a real sense of satisfaction that they were empowering these learners to participate in a community they for now call home.