BrigidFest 2025
Schedule
Sun Feb 09 2025 at 12:00 pm to 04:00 pm
UTC+11:00Location
Batman's Hill on Collins | Melbourne, VI
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Join us for BrigidFest - Féile Bríde 2025 Sunday, 9 February 2025
12.00pm - 4.00pm
Batman's Hill on Collins
623 Collins St, Melbourne
Tickets: $76* for two-course lunch *plus a $2.40 booking fee
Bookings are essential for this popular event.
We recommend you book early to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
We are delighted to announce that the speaker for BrigidFest 2025 is Siobhan Dooley, award-winning publican, The Drunken Poet.
Irish Soft Power - The View from Behind the Bar
Winning hearts and minds through culture, hospitality, and connection
About the Speaker
Kilkenny-born Siobhan Dooley studied Economics and Business at Trinity College Dublin. Having gained experience in hospitality in both Ireland and the United States, in 2006 she created The Drunken Poet and later went on to found The Last Jar (which she has since sold). Siobhan remains the driving force behind The Drunken Poet, now an institution in Melbourne.
While some nations wield the hard power of military might, others—like Ireland—opt for a more peaceful path, winning hearts and minds through culture, hospitality, and connection. Siobhan Dooley may not be turning milk into ale for visiting bishops, but she does lend a sympathetic ear and provides a safe, welcoming space for her patrons.
In 2015, The Drunken Poet earned a spot on the Irish Times list of the world’s top ten Irish pubs. Siobhan will share her insights on what makes an Irish pub truly Irish, going beyond the clichés. From behind the bar, she has witnessed the evolution of the Irish community in Australia. She will reflect on how intimate pubs foster connection, offer hospitality, and play a vital role in honouring the arts—particularly music and poetry.
She will also tackle an enduring challenge: the relationship between alcohol and Irish stereotypes. Through all these elements, the modern Irish pub serves as a conduit for soft power and cultural diplomacy.
Siobhan will be introduced by the Hon Gabrielle Williams MP. She is Victoria’s Minister for Government Services, Consumer Affairs and Public and Active Transport and has worked across portfolios in the prevention of family violence, gender equality, Aboriginal affairs, education, and industry and employment.
*please note that BrigidFest is not a profit-making venture. The ticket price reflects the venue costs. We rely on sponsorship for special items such as flowers and gifts for the speakers. We know that living costs are challenging these days and try our best to keep the ticket price as low as possible.
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Where is it happening?
Batman's Hill on Collins, 623 Collins St,Melbourne,VIC,AustraliaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
