Women’s Coalition celebrate Nollaig na mBan

Slices of cake to celebrate Nollaig na mBan was the order of the day at Wexford County Council headquarters today. Cllr Catherine Biddy Walsh, Mayor of Wexford, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Chairperson of Wexford Women’s Coalition (with the knife!) and Cllr Bridín Murphy with help from her darling daughter ramp up the celebrations and welcome 2025. (Pic; Wexford County Council).

By Dan Walsh

The Wexford Women’s Coalition wing of Wexford County Council today celebrated Nollaig na mBan 2025 in true traditional style… they baked a cake for the occasion!

The event was celebrated by the Wexford Women’s Coalition when they joined staff of Wexford County Council to mark the day. 

Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy, Chairperson of the Women’s Coalition said; “It was important that everyone took the time today to celebrate the women in their lives that made them the person they are today.”

The Women’s Coalition which consists of the seven female elected members of Wexford County Council wish to ensure that this traditional day dedicated to women is highlighted in recognition of the role of women both inside and outside the home, to keep the tradition alive and perhaps create new ones.

The female members of the Council elected last June are Cllrs Barbara-Anne Murphy, Mary Farrell, Lisa McDonald, Bridín Murphy, who is Cathoairleach of New Ross Municipal District Council. Catherine Biddy Walsh, recently elected Mayor of Wexford, AoifeRose O’Brien and Vicky Barron.     

Nollaig na mBan, which can be translated from Irish as ‘Women’s Christmas’ and is one of Ireland’s biggest traditions and is observed on January 6th, which is also the feast day of the Epiphany.

Traditionally Nollaig na mBan was celebrated in homes around Ireland where women who had worked so hard over the Christmas period to provide food and festivities for their family took the day off cooking and other household duties to gather with friends. 

In more recent times events to mark ‘Women’s Christmas’ or ‘Little Christmas’ have grown to include social events outside the home. 

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