Theatrical, creative writing, choral, and gardening events will take place in Galway during May for the Bealtaine festival, which celebrates creativity in older people.
The Galway City Museum is hosting a four-week reminiscence writing workshop led by writer and facilitator Pete Mullineaux. Those with a Galway memory, story, or folktale to share are welcome. No previous writing experience required.
The workshop begins this Saturday from 11am to 12.30pm and continues on May 4, 18, and 25. Participants must be available to attend each session. For further information or to make a booking contact the museum on 091 - 532460.
Galway city will host 10 Years of Burning Bright, a process based art programme igniting the creative spirit in older people. An exhibition and brochure launch celebrating its achievements will take place on Wednesday May 1 in the Galway Arts Centre. Call 091 - 476504 for more details.
The poet Kevin Higgins will give free creative writing classes, open to the public, on Tuesday May 7 and May 14 at Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust. For details contact Margaret Flannery on 091 - 544979.
The Glann Resource Centre, Oughterard, will host an outdoor workshop given by Kay Synott of Living Gardens called, Grow Happy. For details contact Leanora O’Halloran on 091 - 557633. The Order of Malta will organise an intergenerational event and heritage tour on Inis Meain. For details contact Finuala Lynch–Faherty on 087 - 7746212.
Award-winning actor and writer Mikel Murfi is bringing his show The Man in The Woman’s Shoes to Inis Oírr. Inspired by the writer’s conversations with elderly people across Sligo, it follows Pat Farnon as he walks from his cottage to town and back again and the marvels he meets along the way. See it in Áras Éanna on Sunday May 26. For more information contact 099 - 75150 or see www.araseanna.ie The Association of Irish Choirs and Active Retirement Ireland are encouraging choirs throughout the country to sing in every county at dawn on Sunday 26 for the Dawn Chorus event. In Galway, the Salthill Active Retirement Association’s ‘Local Choir’ is organising the Salthill Dawn Chorus, taking place on Salthill Seafront. For details contact Joan Dowling on 091 - 522015. For other areas of County Galway contact The Association of Irish Choirs on 061 - 234823.
Libraries through the county and the Arts Office also have extensive Bealtaine programmes. See www.bealtaine.com
