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.

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

Register with us

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.

Silver Stars goes to New York

Seeded in Bealtaine, Silver Stars, the song cycle based on the lives of older Irish gay men, is appearing off Broadway in January 2010.

Nurtured and supported by Bealtaine in 2008, Seán Millar and Brokentalkers theatrical collaboration went on to become the sell-out hit of the 2009 Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival. Now, it is on its way to New York’s Under The Radar Festival opening 8th January 2010 at the legendary Public Theater.

Featuring a community chorus of older and not-so-old gay men, Silver Stars is a moving and eloquent telling of the truly remarkable real-life stories of ordinary men in search of happiness and fulfillment, in a country that was challenged by their very existence.

Based on celebrated singer/songwriter Seán Millar’s interviews with gay men from Dublin to New York, these songs capture tales of love, loss, family, spirituality, defiance and joy.

Silver Stars is supported by Culture Ireland. Brokentalkers are associate artists of Project Arts Centre.

SILVER STARS at The Public Theater | 425 Lafayette Street | NY, NY 10003 | 212-967-7555

You can book tickets for the New York shows here.

Cover of Bealtaine Programme

Programme for Bealtaine 2010

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 singers Dawn 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