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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Videos and Comments

 

 

Paraic Cullen on Silver Stars, in conversation with Seamus Cashman

It all began with Sean Millar, the songwriter. On a long drive, one night, from Galway to Dublin, his friend Aidan decided to tell Sean his life story, and naturally a variety of things came up in that three-or-four-hour-long conversation. Sean, who is a famous singer and songwriter, was so moved by it that he wrote a song based on Aidan’s experience. He brought it to Dominic Campbell of the Bealtaine festival, identifying that this song told a lost story about gay men in the fifties, sixties and seventies.

Fruitcake

Meath County Council Arts Office commissioned playwright Alice Barry to create 'Fruitcake' for the Bealtaine Festival. Performed by Mary McEvoy at venues all over counties Meath and Louth during May, this performance took place in Oldcastle Library, Co. Meath.

Blow the Dust off Your Trumpet

Enjoy the reaction to the sold-out 'Blow the Dust' concert.

Dawn Chorus 2010

Dawn Chorus in the media

For a real flavour of the day, listen to Ronan Kelly's report on Morning Ireland from Carlow, Youghal and Dollymount, with additional material from Liam O'Brien and Colette Kinsella.

You can also enjoy Alan Betson's audio and slideshow on the Irish Times site, of Sunday morning on Dollymount strand.

 

Sally Murphy remembers the first Bealtaine Dawn Chorus

Sally Murphy recalls the first Bealtaine Dawn Chorus in Donegal

 

Sweet Spot from Macushla

Sweet Spot is a dance film which was made as part of a triple bill of dance works called Triptik involving the Macushla Dance Club which showed at The Project Arts Centre in December 2009.

Margharita Solon talks about the power of EnvisAge

Margharita Solon of Nás na Riogh Housing Association speaks about her involvement with Bealtaine and the EnvisAge project

About Macushla's Tipping Point

Find out more about Tipping Point and how it came about for Macushla Dance Club.

Richard Martin talks about his 'Blow the Dust...' experience

Richard Martin from Dundalk speaks about his participation last year in the National Concert Hall ‘Blow The Dust’ project.
 

Explore the opening of Ink

Ink was launched on Sunday 16 May in the Original Print Gallery in Temple Bar, Dublin.

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