Bealtaine, the Irish national festival celebrating creativity in older age, is co-ordinated by Age & Opportunity and includes events organised by hundreds of partner organisations.

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The Arts Council

A dream launch

dancing in Heuston Station“Fun, lightness and creativity" - share in the fun of the Bealtaine launch at Heuston Station, Dublin.

Bealtaine Launch 2010

Age & Opportunity

Bealtaine is coordinated  by Age & Opportunity, the Irish national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society. Check out the Age & Opportunity web site.
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Festival highlights

 

 

Dawn Chorus

 

Following on from last year's success, Active Retirement Associations are partnering with choirs from the Association of Irish Choirs to create more Dawn Chorus magic. This year's events will take place on Sunday the 30th of May in many counties across Ireland.

Ink

Ink logo

This year, Age & Opportunity has commissioned photographer Aidan Kelly to photograph and exhibit his images of the tattoos of older people. If, as novelist Jack London said, tattoos are a sign of ‘an interesting past’, then this exhibition attempts to capture the history that has been absorbed into a body.

Watch the Ink interviews online.

Blow the Dust Off your Trumpet

 


 

The hugely successful Blow The Dust Off Your Trumpet, which began in the National Concert Hall in 2009, is taking place in both Cork and Dublin this year.

‘Blow the Dust...’ encourages older musicians to pick up their instruments again with help from experienced professional musicians and teachers. Richard Martin tells us why he got involved.

In Stitches

As older people, we contribute to society all of the time; here’s another opportunity. Whether you are a seasoned knitter or new to the needles, Age & Opportunity and Oxfam Ireland invite you to be ‘In Stitches’!
 

Project Brand New Generation

 

 
This Friday and Saturday 28 and 29 May at 8pm will see the performances of Project Brand New Generation at the Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar.

What's new?

Evaluating Bealtaine

Each year, we ask organisers to fill out an evaluation form once events are finished. If you have organised an event, you can fill out the form from here.

Go to evaluation form

Dawn Chorus

dawn chorus singersDawn Chorus returned to waterfronts all across Ireland on Sunday 30 May. See how they went.

See and hear the Dawn Chorus.

Ink exhibition

Ink exhibition logo

Aidan Kelly's exhibition exploring older people's tattoos, Ink, is now on in the Original Print Gallery, Temple Bar until 30 May. Part of the exhibition is online.

See the online part of Ink