St Brigid's Cathedral Kildare sits on the original site of St Brigid's monastery - and a spiritual dimension was palpable as a string of brilliant Irish women took to the stage there last night: MC Trishauna Archer, Lisa Lambe, Brinda Irani, The Henry Girls, Loah and Moya Brennan.

This marvellous convocation of female musicians had been gathered to explore the theme She Moves Through The Fair: Songs about Irish Woman, an event created by Hot Press as the final part in the 'Nothing Compares: A Celebration of Irish Women Artists' series, run in association with Kildare County Council and Brigid 1500, and with support from Kildare Village.

Before the concert, Kildare town was teeming with the spirit of Imbolc, as a major procession in honour of the patroness of poetry – enacted by the fire magicians of LUXE – marched through the winding streets before concluding in a spectacular pyrotechnic display in the square in front of St. Brigid's Cathedral.

'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The fire display, symbolically bringing light into darkness, was extended into the grounds of the Cathedral, lighting the way for members of the audience as they entered the ancient building.

Our dazzling MC for the night, Trishuana Archer, paid appropriate homage to the hallowed grounds in her opening remarks, and introduced each act in a breezy and welcoming tone - settling everyone in for what promised to be a beautifully ethereal night. And that's exactly what it proved to be.

The first musical performer of the night, Lisa Lambe, promised to bring listeners 'back down those dark boreens where those songs would have been handed down from generation to generation'. "Ó bhéal go bhéal," she added.

With musicians Claire Sherry (fiddle, mandolin, banjo), Tim Doyle (fiddle, pipes, cincertina) and Mike Bloomfield (guitar) providing atmospheric backing, her selection of historic folks songs was impressive – from the tragic 'Down by the Blackwaterside', through 'Donal Óg' to the fortitude of a young woman in love in 'Matt Hyland', Lambe brought us on an intrucate journey down the boreens of yesteryear with songs of passion, heartbreak and joy.

Lisa Lambe at. 'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.
Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Following Lambe's highly impressive performance Hot Press Y & E alum Brinda Irani was up next. At just 17 years of age, Brinda is just starting her career, but she delivered a set that was marvellously accomplished.

Her song 'Spirit Lead Me' was almost James-Bondesque in its polish, poise and downright killer vocals. Standing all alone onstage, with just a keyboard, loops and her voice to play with, Irani conjured cinematic soundscapes that filled the high-ceilinged Cathedral. And can she sing! She's a superstar in the making.

Brinda Irani at 'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Irani's spellbinding performance set the scene nicely for the marvellous ensemble-playing of The Henry Girls. From Donegal, these siblings are masters of hypnotic harmonies, of the intuitive kind that are only possible when the bandmates have spent years in each other's company. Which, of course, as real life sisters they have.

Not only that: the Cathedral provided Jolene Mclaughlin with a sacred honour – that of sitting on the chair of the legendary harpist Turlough O'Carolan, as she too plucked magic from the many-stringed instrument.

Living up to the legacy of enchanting music that O'Carolan's chair implied, the sisters performed 'Iníonacha na hÉireann', an original composition entitled 'Brigid' – "what an incredible figure to write about," one of the sisters said – and a song titled 'Farewell' dedicated to women's rights activist Helen Harris.

The Henry Girls at 'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Kildare's own Loah was next in the spotlight and delivered a funky twist on 'Unveiled' and that was followed by an entrancing rendition of 'Gabhaim Molta Bríde'- a performance which demonstrated the extraordinary capacity traditional music has to evoke transcendental feelings.

Loah was joined onstage by Moya Brennan for the folk classic 'Siúil a Rún' – which Clannad have performed – and demonstrated everything the evening was about: songs about Irish women, sung by Irish women to celebrate Irish women.

Loah at 'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

After a beautiful performance, Moya Brennan disappeared off stage – only to be introduced in her own right by Trishauna.

And it was a triumphant return to the stage, with Brennan opening with a prayer to St.Brigid before treating the audience to their second harp performance of the night.

With her daughter Aisling Jarvis on guitar, and Cormac de Barra on harp, they created a beautiful noise – a particular highlight was Brennan's mystical rendition of 'An Crann Úll', with every strum and note bleeding sweetly into the majestic surroundings.

This was followed by Brennan's rendition of William Butler Yeat's 'Down by the Salley Gardens' which had everyone in the audience rising to their feet in sustained applause.

Moya Brennan at 'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

There was one final treat in store – a special version of 'She Moves Through the Fair', featuring all of the night's performers, paying homage to Sinéad O'Connor, St Brigid and Ireland's long and proud tradition of powerful women. As they stood in line – The Henry Girls, Loah, Lisa Lambe, Brinda Irani and Moya Brennan – swapping half-verses beautifully, you could only marvel, once again, at the strength and depth of Irish female talent right now.

Another standing ovation, a final sign-off from Trishauna, and the house lights came up – with people standing around to share their awe at what had been a beautiful and inspiring night's music. Rock on next year!

'She Moves Through The Fair' at St.Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare to celebrate Brigid 1500 with Hot Press, Kildare County Council and Kildare Village. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

• With special thanks to the team at St. Brigid's Cathedral, Kildare County Council, Brigid 1500 and Kildare Village.