North Inner City all set for Nollaig na mBan Festival 

On January 6 each year, women all over Ireland celebrate Nollaig na mBan, also known as ‘Little Christmas’ and ‘Women’s Christmas’.   

Traditionally, this was a day women downed tools and had a day of rest and pampering after the hard work of Christmas.   

The Nollaig na mBan Festival in Dublin’s North Inner City has taken this day to a whole new level.   

Established by a group of local women from Ballybough, the North Strand and Clonliffe areas, and sponsored by Dublin City Council, NEIC, Dublin Port Company, Inner City Trust and Local Safety Partnership the special day was designed to honour and celebrate local women.   

To date this festival has a record of attracting top class events, using local venues such as Charleville Mall Library, St. Columba’s Church, Clonliffe House, Cusack’s and  Annesley House in North Strand and Ballybough.    

Each year between 10- 12 local women — unsung heroes — are chosen for their various contributions to the area, with posters of the women hung outdoors and an award ceremony on the day.   

This year on Monday 6th of January festival organisers have confirmed Blues sensation from Donegal, Muireann Bradley (pictured above), Mary Stokes Trio, Leslie Dowdall, Aoife  Bridget, Mamma Mia S (ABBA Tribute) and more! 

‘In Conversation’ with Kellie Harrington and of course the ‘Celebrating Local  

Women’ awards ceremony will continue apace — there will always be more  women to celebrate than we can possibly cover!   

The gathering of family and friends for this festival is heart-warming, and the festival brings the entire community together under a united umbrella: to have well-deserved fun!  

But don’t just take our word for it…  

Muireann Bradley: “My own mother has told me how set met my father on 6th of January and she hasn’t had a day off since”  

Mary Stokes: “Nollaig na mBan was always a big occasion in our house. Several of the local women would arrive at my family home and  we stuffed our faces with tea and cake”.    

Leslie Dowdall “I love Nollaig na mBan, I gather friends and we celebrate with food, drinks, chat and loads of laughter.  

“It’s a wonderfully joyful and inspiring occasion with a very special  energy.

“We raise our glasses and salute each other with “Up Us” and to  our friendship, to bright new light, and to the health and well-being of the body, mind and spirit of each and all of us.

“It’s always a great and  special night”.  

“Nollaig na mBan is a really important celebration of Irish women; there should  be more days like these” – Mary Coughlan   

“I think it is of the utmost importance to celebrate women and for us to support each other.” – Honor Heffernan   

“The event is a celebration of great women, who have succeeded, despite challenges. 

“They are women who are active in trying to make things better in the world…  days like Nollaig na mBan matter.” – Katriona O’Sullivan.   

“It was a very special day for all the ladies to be recognised for all their great deeds.  

My family were so happy for me to be part of the day. I met such lovely people … including the  lovely Paula Meehan, our poet.” – Connie Whelan (aged 93)